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LRMC expects delivery of 10 train sets this year

LIGHT RAIL Manila Corp. (LRMC) expects the 10 Generation-4 (Gen-4) train sets procured for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) to be delivered within the year.

“Right now, we are waiting for ten sets of four [light rail vehicles],” LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Juan F. Alfonso told reporters last week.

“I think about December 2023 to January 2024, the new trains will already start going in,” he added.

The company said in a Viber message that 20 out of the 30 Gen-4 train sets manufactured in Spain and Mexico are already in Manila.

“They are undergoing tests and trial runs to complete the necessary minimum kilometer run before commercial operations,” it added.

Each Gen-4 train set needs to complete a total of 1,000 kilometers prior to acceptance by the grantors and the eventual handover to LRMC for commercial use.

The government-procured trains are being repaired in batches of two to three at a time to address the water leak issues through Spanish railway vehicle company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, the company said.

The passenger train sets measure 106 meters in length and are 2.59 meters wide and can accommodate over 1,300 passengers per trip. It has a maximum design speed of 70 kilometers per hour, according to LRMC.

The trains, although procured as part of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project, will not only be used for the new line but also in existing lines, according to LRMC.

“But it doesn’t mean that the trains will only be used for the new line, or that only once LRT-1 Cavite Extension becomes operational. We can use them on the existing line as soon as ready, cleared, and possible,” it added.

The company is currently constructing the 11.7-kilometer Cavite Extension of the LRT-1 line.

The project is expected to benefit 800,000 passengers daily and to cut down travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor from one hour and 10 minutes to 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, Mr. Alfonso said that its daily profit has not reached its pre-pandemic levels yet as it currently operates between 70% to 80% of its 2019-levels.

“It is continuously increasing. But it didn’t bounce back like restaurants and schools,” he said.

LRMC, which operates a 20-station light rail line from Pasay to Quezon City, posted a core net loss of P472 million in 2022.

This is despite a 58% revenue increase to P1.8 billion, as additional costs were incurred due to the start of amortization of concession and borrowing costs.

LRMC is a joint venture of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

‘Ternocon 3 Exhibit’ to travel outside Metro Manila

DESIGNS of ‘Ternocon III’ mentor Joey Samson at the Glorietta Palm Drive Activity Center

WHILE the “Ternocon 3 Exhibit” at the Ayala Center ended this weekend, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is going to bring it to other cities this year and the next.

During a press tour of the exhibit on April 12, which brought guests around the exhibit’s different sections at Greenbelt, Glorietta, and the Ayala Museum, CCP Vice-President and Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan said that this exhibit tour will be done in cooperation with the Office of the First Lady, the CCP Regional Art Centers, and the CCP’s Cultural Exchange Department.

Other terno-making activities will also be planned with the travelling exhibit. “We want to bring this to Mindanao, primarily because they’re not a big terno country. Of course, we want to bring it also to the Visayas. Right now, we’re having negotiations with a place that can be something like this where people can go and just see it,” he told BusinessWorld.

“Ternocon” is a biennial event by clothing brand Bench and the CCP that joins fashion designer mentors with young designers for a contest and fashion show that celebrates one of the country’s national dresses, the terno.

Evolving from the traje de mestiza, it put together the separate pieces of that outfit —  a skirt (the saya), a blouse (the baro), a fichu (the panuelo), an overskirt (the tapis) —  and makes it into a single piece. The terno transforms the wide pagoda sleeves of the baro into the famed butterfly sleeves that frame the face. The evolution of the traje de mestiza into the terno began in the 1900s, during the American period of colonization, and reached its zenith in the 1950s to the 1970s, when first ladies (especially Luz Magsaysay, Eva Macapagal, and Imelda Marcos) were seen at state events wearing the dress (not to mention the various society ladies who wore it at balls).

This year, “Ternocon” was shown in January at the CCP’s Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez Black Box Theater. Mentors included Dennis Lustico, Chito Vijandre, Ricky Toledo, Joey Samson, Hannah Adrias (who won the gold medal for “Ternocon” in 2020), and chief mentor Inno Sotto. Their creations, as well as those of the 13 finalists, were shown at the exhibit.

“Ternocon” mentor Mr. Lustico worked with a sophisticated color palette executed in beaded piña cloth, point d’esprit, lace, fishnet, taffeta, duchesse satin, and silk organza. A motif conveyed in ostrich feather work, beads, and rhinestones were inspired by a cluster of coconut trees that he had seen from one of his trips around the country.

At the Ayala Museum, Messrs. Vijandre and Toledo showed off their grand campy vision with vintage textiles, lace, and the songs of Imelda Papin. Mr. Samson drew inspiration from national hero Jose Rizal and his many muses, including his nine romantic partners and his mother Teodora, fusing Western menswear and feminine Filipiniana elements. Ms. Adrias showed clothes featuring fractured and distressed materials, in a palette of amber, moss, teal, bronze, gold, and gray.

This year’s gold medalist Yssa Inumerable showed off a vision with Gibson Girls from the turn of the 20th century, according to a release. “Her joyous take on the balintawak [the more informal version of the terno] included gently tweaked versions of all the traditional components, using piña, jusi, and inabel cloth from Abra. She also used colorful folk style embroidery called bordang Taal.” Silver medalist Gabbie Sarenas showed her skill in embroidery with three-dimensional sampaguitas, and bronze medalist Glady Rose Pantua embroidered her winning entry with birds and elements of Filipino culture. Particularly eyecatching was the balintawak made by Glyn Alley Magtibay, which used X-ray sheets to form the sleeves.

Mr. Marasigan told BusinessWorld in an interview about the importance of bringing these clothes off the stage and on the ground. “People have thought of the terno as a costume. It is our national dress. It should be considered as something that you can wear every day. Bringing it to a place like this [the mall], I think, brings it closer to the whole idea that it’s something that should be commonplace.” — Joseph L. Garcia

RLC plans 2-4 more project launches this year

CEBU CITY — RLC Residences is planning to launch two to four more projects this year, as it sees continued growth in demand for residential condominiums.

John Richard B. Sotelo, senior vice-president and business unit general manager of RLC Residences, said the company is looking to launch the new projects in Metro Manila.

“We’re planning to launch anywhere from two to four more projects depending on how the market responds,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the launch of its new premium condominium project Mantawi Residences, Friday.

Mantawi Residences is a four-tower premium condominium located along Ouano Avenue in Mandaue City.

This is the third project launched this year by RLC Residences, the residential brand of listed developer Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC). Earlier this year, it unveiled Le Pont Residences in the Bridgetowne estate and the fourth tower of Sierra Valley Gardens in Cainta, Rizal.

Despite rising interest rates, Mr. Sotelo said there appears to be sustained demand for residential projects, as evidenced by the growing pre-reservation sales as reported  by listed property companies, including RLC.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy-setting Monetary Board has raised borrowing costs by 425 bps since May last year, bringing the benchmark rate to 6.25%, the highest since 2007.

“We are not experiencing a slowdown at least in the residential business. We have a couple of clients worried about bank loans but when we tell them that they will only need a bank loan in seven years, they say ‘oo nga pala’ (Yes, that’s true). For now, we’re pretty confident that the market for residential condominiums will continue to grow,” Mr. Sotelo said. 

RLC has reported its residential business, which includes RLC Residences and Robinsons Homes, posted a 44% increase in revenues to P9.1 billion in 2022. Full-year net residential pre-sales rose 57% year on year.

Asked where RLC Residences is looking at expanding, Mr. Sotelo said it is easier to expand in an area where RLC already has a presence, whether a mall, hotel, or office building.

“Montclair (RLC’s destination estate in Porac, Pampanga). I’m very interested to launch there. It’s just a matter of timing,” he said.

Aside from high interest rates, the rising prices of construction materials is also a concern for property developers like RLC.

Mr. Sotelo noted prices spiked last year due to the Russia-Ukraine war but has “settled down.”

“It is still higher pre-pandemic. Electricity and oil prices are more expensive. Labor costs also went up,” he said.

Retail price growth of construction materials in Metro Manila slowed to 4.1% year on year in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday. This is the slowest rate of growth in over a year, according to PSA data.

Based on preliminary PSA data, the construction materials retail price index was up 5% in the first quarter, from 3.7% during the same period a year ago. — Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Two out of three hit the spot

THEUNBRANDEDSKINCARE.COM

By Joseph L. Garcia, Reporter

Product Review
The Unbranded Skincare Co.
Cleansing Wash, Day Shield, and Overnight Cream

WHILE the London City airport has dropped the 100 mL limit for liquids in one’s carry-on luggage, the rest of the world is yet to follow suit. This means that we still have to pack our skincare in our check-in luggage, and we’re not quite willing to open our suitcase to a sight of broken bottles of serum.

Last year, we received bottles from homegrown skincare company The Unbranded Skincare Co. —  and ignored them. During a trip to Paris last March, we decided to finally use the three-piece skincare kit. The promise of Unbranded is to reduce longer routines and condense them into one facial wash, plus a Day Shield and an Overnight Cream. To be fair, my facial routines never go into the extreme 11 steps that lots of people adopted before the pandemic. My own routine uses a facial wash, a toner, a Niacinamide serum, a hyaluronic acid moisturizer, and sunscreen during the day; another facial wash, another toner, a retinol serum, face oil, and another moisturizer at night —  well below 11. Still, the need for more space in the suitcase might benefit from what is essentially a two-step routine.

Unbranded’s Cleansing Wash (P575) has squalene that aims to restore lipidic barriers in the skin to keep moisture better, and also contains lotus, green tea, calamansi, angelica, and guava extracts; as well as brightening niacinamide and antimicrobial tea tree oil. It’s designed to join cleanser and makeup remover in one, and it really works that way. What we did was use it as a makeup remover, applying it first on a dry face to melt off our makeup, then wiping it off with a cloth, and then rinsing it off. We felt that our skin really was softer and calmer during the trip.

The Unbranded Day Shield (P850) also has squalene for hydration, allantoin to soothe and calm skin, and hyaluronic acid, also for hydration purposes. It also has a measure of sun protection with SPF 35, thus condensing moisturizer, serum, and sunscreen in one. This cream has to set upon application —  the sunscreen component left a white cast on the face —  but otherwise, it felt rich and quite thick, and a little goes a long way.

Well —  it was our fault for using this at the beaches of Normandy, an environment that punished Allied soldiers during the Second World War (and Lord knows they didn’t bring any skincare). Punishing winds, sand, and the hot sun combining with the mild cool of the spring thaw had terrible effects on the Unbranded Day Shield. We remember leaving a makeshift morgue at one of the D-Day landing beaches with our skin feeling like it was cracking.

We tried soothing this that evening with the Overnight Cream (P975). This had Centella Asiatica that helps repair skin; as well as ameliox, bee venom, and hydrolyzed collagen (from starfish) that act as anti-aging elements. We woke up with our skin feeling light, though a bit too shiny.

We gave the Day Shield another chance, but this time, we weren’t taking any chances: on a trip to the former home of the French royals at the Palace of Versailles, we layered the day shield with another moisturizer. And you know what? It still did not work; and the same windy conditions in Versailles punished the face once again. To be fair to it, the Day Shield performed quite well (but not as well as my own five-step routine) in Paris itself, as well as in Amsterdam.

Our verdict is to kick the Day Shield out of the routine and keep the Overnight Cream and the Cleansing Wash. The Day Shield might show good results in a pinch, but never in a harsh climate, and preferably somewhere humid. The Overnight Cream can even be used at home when you’re just not in the mood to rub more things on your face and just want to hit the sack. Still, with just two bottles in your bag for a “spartan” evening routine, that would at least help save space so you can buy better day creams in another city.

One can get The Unbranded Skincare Co.’s products from their website (theunbrandedskincare.com).

AirAsia posts 99% on-time performance during Holy Week

NEWSROOM.AIRASIA.COM

BUDGET CARRIER AirAsia Philippines recorded a 99% on-time performance (OTP) during the Holy Week despite the influx of passengers amid the holidays, it said in a statement.

“The World’s Best Low-Cost Airline recorded a high of 99% OTP during the Holy Week where the Manila International Airport also experienced an influx of departing and arriving guests,” AirAsia Philippines said.

It said it achieved a 100% OTP on April 7, 11 and 12, registering the highest OTP in the whole AirAsia operations center with a 94% rating from April 1 to 9. For an airline to be considered on time, they have to arrive or take off within 15 minutes of their scheduled time.

“We know how important it is for our guests to reach their destinations safely and on time. Whether it be a business trip or a family vacation, every minute counts,” AirAsia Philippines Communications and Public Affairs Head Steve F. Dailisan said in a statement.

The company said that in an internal meeting with the Air Association of the Philippines, the Civil Aeronautics Board proposed the publication of the airlines’ OTP, which will be made accessible to all passengers who will be booking their flights.

“This will enable guests to carefully plan their flights and travel itinerary especially those with connecting flights or traveling from one airport to another,” AirAsia Philippines said in a Viber message.

The low-cost airline has been publishing its OTP across all its operations centers on its website.

Beginning April 15, all travelers are required to register and accomplish the E-Travel System, which replaces the paper-based documents used by inbound and outbound passengers.

The airline reminded its guests to register within 72 hours before their scheduled departure and arrival on www.etravel.gov.ph. — J.I.D. Tabile

Lacoste dresses up ‘Netflix and Chill’ uniform in fashion collab

LACOSTE.COM.PH

NETFLIX, Inc. and Lacoste SA are launching a clothing collaboration that will see the garment-maker’s iconic crocodile dressed up as show characters, with the steaming service saying it wanted to go beyond “the Netflix and chill uniform.”

The collaboration, which will cover eight of Netflix’s most popular shows, signals a doubling-down by Lacoste, owned by Maus Freres Holding AG, in its attempt to turn around the almost century old clothing brand by appealing to a younger audience. Traditionally known for its polo shirts and high-end tennis gear, the brand’s other recent unlikely partnerships include Bruno Mars and the skater magazine Thrasher.

The deal also suggests Netflix will continue its recent forays into clothing merchandise. The streaming service partnered with French fashion house Balmain for a Western-themed collection inspired by The Harder They Fall. Other collaborations, like a 2020 Hennes & Mauritz ABM collection for teen romance movie To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, more specifically targeted a younger audience.

Netflix says the Lacoste collaboration, launching April 12, is designed to appeal to romance fans and teen show enthusiasts. The eight featured shows are Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Lupin, Money Heist, The Witcher, Sex Education, Shadow and Bone and Elite.  — Bloomberg

Court convicts officials of lending company for falsifying documents

OFFICIALS and incorporators of Dr Verma Lending Corp. have been convicted for falsifying documents that were submitted for registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the regulator said.

“In a decision dated April 5, the Pasay Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 47 found three officials of Dr Verma Lending Corporation guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Article 172 (1) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), providing penalties for the falsification of public documents by a private individual,” the SEC said in a statement on Friday.

“The SEC filed the criminal case against Dr Verma Lending after the SEC Corporate Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD) found irregularities in the Certificate of Bank Deposit in the amount of P1 million, purpotedly issued by BDO-Pasay Two Shopping Center Branch in April 2017, which the former submitted as part of the requirements for registration with the Commission,” it said.

The bank certificate was made to comply with Republic Act No. 9474 or the Lending Company Regulation Act, which prescribes a minimum paid-up capital of P1 million for lending companies.

Jelyn Orillo Borja, Uldarico Sahay, and Jessie Basarte Borja were each sentenced to imprisonment of up to two years and six months and were slapped with a P100,000 fine.

“As [Jelyn Borja, Uldarico Sahay, and Jessie Borja] knowing fully well that the bank certificate is a requirement and that their corporation does not have the money to put up the same, their reliance on fixers to procure such certification necessarily negates their excuse or purported lack of knowledge over the falsification of the same, thereby making them liable for the act,” the SEC quoted the court decision as saying.

The commission said this marks the second conviction the regulator has secured against illegal lenders for falsifying public documents.

“The SEC remains vigilant over the registration and operations of lending and financing companies, as part of the government-initiated crackdown against illegal lenders engaged in a “5-6” scheme and other usurious practices since 2016,” the regulator said. — AHH

Ex-MNLF bases awaiting OIC farm investments

PRESIDENTIAL Peace Adviser Isidro L. Purisima (right) and Bangsamoro Labor Minister Muslimin G. Sema, also the central committee chair of the Moro National Liberation Front, during their engagement on April 14 in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Sur. — JOHN UNSON  

FORMER BASES operated by the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have been declared “peace zones” ready to accept agriculture investments from Muslim countries, according to an MNLF leader who is also a member of the Bangsamoro government.

“Since there is peace now in these areas, we are optimistic that investors from member-countries of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) will soon come in to invest in viable ventures,” MNLF Central Committee Chair Muslimin G. Sema said on Friday following a meeting with Acting Presidential Peace Adviser Isidro L. Purisima.

Mr. Sema, the labor minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said the former camps are suitable for large-scale propagation of corn, soybeans, or Cavendish bananas for export.

MNLF has blocs in the region’s provinces in mainland Mindanao as well as the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. The “peace zones” have been de-militarized and have been set up to become agricultural development sites.

The OIC, a global bloc of Muslim countries that includes petroleum-exporting states in the Middle East and North Africa, helped broker the Philippine government’s separate peace agreements with the MNLF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

At the meeting, capped off by an iftar or the first meal after a day-long Ramadhan fast, Mr. Sema reaffirmed the MNLF’s commitment to supporting the peace process and economic development programs in the Bangsamoro region, with governance led by the MILF.

“The Moro issue in Mindanao is best addressed via diplomatic and political interventions. We cherish our final peace agreement with the National Government,” Mr. Sema said.

The MNLF and the National Government forged on Sept. 2, 1996 a final peace agreement that ended the group’s more than two decades of secessionist activities in provinces that now comprise BARMM.

The MILF, on the other hand, has two compacts with Malacañang, the 2012 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.

The two agreements came after 22 years of government-MILF peace talks that paved the way for the creation of BARMM in 2019, replacing the then 29-year-old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Former MILF camps are also in the process of transformation via agricultural and non-agricultural livelihood training for inhabitants, and improving access to basic services and social infrastructure.  

The MNLF has representatives in the 80-seat MILF-led BARMM parliament. — John M. Unson

World of Barbie experience brings iconic doll into the real world

AVA RIOS poses inside Barbie’s box as her mom Brenda Cisneros takes a picture during the World of Barbie immersive experience preview in Santa Monica, California, US, April 12, 2023. — REUTERS/MARIO ANZUONI

LOS ANGELES — From the first blonde haired Barbie created by Mattel in 1959 to the upcoming Barbie film, the iconic doll with small feet continues to make a large impression on generations of fans at the new World of Barbie immersive experience in Los Angeles.

This trip is not just for young girls, said Lucy Treadway, producer for Kilburn Live, which built the life-sized version of Barbie’s Dreamhouse.

“It’s for grownups too,” Ms. Treadway said in an interview. “To see people’s faces when they walk in, it is really is fun. I mean, their jaws hit the ground, all ages.”

Gender does not matter, she added, noting that both little girls and boys scream with excitement when they arrive.

Guests can explore rooms in the 20,000 square-foot attraction dedicated to Barbie’s careers and hobbies as well as an assortment of doll selections that celebrate diversity.

“The message is you can be anything, and it’s such a huge value for kids when they can walk into a room and see astronaut Barbie and see all the different careers that would never dawn on a child, that they could be something,” Ms. Treadway said.

The dolls have come to represent inclusivity over the years with the message that children, no matter their background, can be anything, she added.

Fans are encouraged to express their own style at the World of Barbie through the viral Barbiecore fashion trend of girly pink outfits and accessories.

The craze took off in 2022 when celebrities, including Barbie star Margot Robbie, Zendaya, Lizzo, Florence Pugh, and Anne Hathaway, began sporting themed outfits at events ahead of the Barbie live-action film opening in July.

Fans can also buy Barbies and Barbiecore accessories at the World of Barbie, with plenty of options for customers to embrace their love for the Barbie world. — Reuters

Acquiro targets to create 15,000 jobs in 3-5 years

GLOBE GROUP’S Acquiro Solutions and Tech, Inc. is planning to scale up its operations as part of its goal of generating 15,000 jobs in the next three to five years.

“Our expansion efforts reflect our dedication to helping both talents and businesses adapt to the ever-changing modern workplace,” Acquiro’s Deputy General Manager Ged Gutierrez said in a statement.

Since its launch in January 2023, Acquiro has already supported over 1,300 talents in tech and non-tech services, while it has opened 300 new job opportunities.

Among the industries it supports are telecommunications, fintech, health, education, digital banking, and information technology, among others.

Acquiro is a spin-off from Globe’s subsidiary Asticom Group of Companies’ staffing solutions which offers part-time, hybrid, and gig work through its talent platform NXT. — J.I.D. Tabile

An initial MIAS dispatch

The crowds are truly back. The Jetour booth is swarmed by people eager to see the brand’s lineup. — PHOTO BY KAP MACEDA AGUILA

The country’s biggest automotive spectacle is back to full speed

DAY ONE of the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2023, quite appropriately, had a little bit of everything. Weather-wise, it was hot, humid, and cloudy when I got there an hour before the opening ceremonies were supposed to commence, and then rain started to fall in the afternoon when my knees and feet told me it was time to call it a day.

Still, people were arriving in droves because, well, it’s the MIAS. The 18th edition of the country’s biggest automotive spectacle, themed “Shaping Mobility,” happens just as two important developments are clearly suffusing the auto industry. First, we are seeing the continued electrification of mobility options — whether in the form of hybrids or BEVs (battery electric vehicles). It’s now almost expected for marques to roll out an electrified model or two, and the MIAS is the perfect platform to get the general public on the same page. Second, we’re seeing the continued influx of brands. Joining the fray are China-headquartered automakers Great Wall Motors and Jetour, adding to an already formidable presence from that country through the likes of Geely, Chery, and even MG. No matter how you slice it, more options mean a win for the consumers through increased competition for a finite spending power.

Taken from a macro view, MIAS inevitably represents a “desire for progress and a sustainable future,” said Worldbex President Joseph Ang. Commenting on the theme, he said, “Shaping mobility is more than just moving people from one place to another. It is also about moving the economy forward… (through meeting the) need for efficient and reliable transportation.” MIAS is also, of course, about showcasing a “range of vehicles that cater to different needs and preferences.”

Delivering a speech for Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, Usec. Anneli Lontoc focused on the aforementioned EVs. “Times have changed, obviously, and we’re in the midst of an electric vehicle revolution with the advent of hybrid vehicles that are already out in the market today,” she stated. “The Department of Transportation recognizes the urgent need for transportation initiatives for green recovery.” Economic recovery should be pursued while being careful to “lessen environmental and climate impact.” Sustainability is the order of the day.

Continued Ms. Lontoc, “The DoTr sees this opportunity to harness sustainability and mobility by promoting active transport through cycling, walking, walkway concourses and efficient traffic control for easier access to work and goods while minimizing social and environmental cost.”

I for one certainly wish the DoTr well in this regard, and it will certainly take more than wishful thinking to realize this dream we can’t just append or supplant to the present reality. A case in point is how the well-meaning yet ill-planned bicycle lanes on major thoroughfares panned out. Instant noodles can taste great, but they are no substitute for a real, lovingly made meal.

Back to MIAS, it still proved to be the smorgasbord of delights that you remember. The dances, the production numbers, the colorful lighting, the models, the loud music. It’s a visual feast that’s in your face and your ears.

As I moved around to observe how we have finally seen a “healthy” MIAS since the pandemic upended everything around us in 2020, I did notice how the show seemed to have outgrown its haunt, the World Trade Center Metro Manila. The gaps and corridors between exhibits and booths were smaller, and filled up quite quickly — especially since the people have come back in full force. Even the venue of the traditional opening ceremony seemed to have shrunk, leaving little room for the media practitioners, such as myself, who wanted to snap away and record the goings on.

I ultimately did myself a favor by taking a Grab to the venue because parking has historically been  a challenge. I heard that the usual parking lot across Buendia (Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue) muddied up pretty good on account of the rain. It’s been a recurring problem for the MIAS faithful; I join them in praying for better parking facilities. I do note though that MIAS (with Foton) provided shuttles to and from the exhibit site. “(We) provide free transport to and from World Trade Center to nearby open parking lots across World Trade Center and Manila Film Center. Parking usually gets full in the early afternoon so it is best to come and visit the show as early as possible,” said MIAS in a release.

For now, while there’s a growing chorus to reconsider an alternative venue, none in the metropolis really comes to mind that can meet the needs and girth of MIAS. One suggestion is to come up with a satellite venue to accommodate other exhibitors. If this can decongest the main venue, why not? However, there should be some sense in exploring that simultaneous second site. Would that change the way you view MIAS? I guess if organizers can also provide free shuttles to and from that second site, then it sounds much more feasible — while opening doors to more parking areas (you can park near either location).

Still, there’s no doubt that MIAS will continue to be among our favorite things about summer. I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Banana growers see exports declining

DA

PRODUCTION of Cavendish bananas, the main export variety, remains threatened by Fusarium wilt or Panama disease, likely dampening exports, according to the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA).

“For the first three months, our production was even worse than last year. We’re kind of worried that maybe at the end of this year, we might not be able to contribute even $1 billion,” PBGEA Executive Director Stephen A. Antig told BusinessWorld in a virtual interview.

Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the total land area planted to banana was 442,894 hectares last year, with 84,328 hectares dedicated to Cavendish, which is cultivated in large plantations for efficiency.

Mr. Antig said that about 15,000 banana plantations were hit by the disease, while the Department of Agriculture is currently monitoring the affected land area to arrive at a production estimate.

Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that is attaches to banana plants, blocking the plant’s vascular system and depriving it of minerals, nutrients, and moisture. Affected plants turn yellow until they die.

“When you’re hit with this disease, it will stay in the soil as long as 30 years. Habang nandiyan siya sa soil (while it is in the soil), you cannot plant the same varieties because they will be destroyed,” Mr. Antig said.

Mar de Guzman, officer-in-charge of Plant Health and Pest Status Section in the Bureau of Plant Industry, said that the Fusarium wilt strain called Tropical Race 4 (TR4) was first recorded in Davao City in 2009.

So far, this fungal strain is only present in the Mindanao region. Other types of Fusarium wilt have also been detected in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon region (Calabarzon), the Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, region (Mimaropa), the Central Visayas, the Eastern Visayas, and the South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos (Soccskargen) region.

“Iniiwasan natin ’yong kumalat ’yong Tropical Race 4, so nagkaroon tayo ng quarantine measures at least hindi makaaabot sa Luzon (We’re trying to quarantine TR4 so it does not hit Luzon),” he said via Facebook Messenger chat.

Last year, banana output was 9.013 million metric tons (MMT) which was the lowest since 2020 when the Philippines produced 9.056 MMT, according to the PSA.

Banana exports totaled 2.24 MMT in 2022, down 6.21%, according to preliminary data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

“Baka nga ma-swerte na kami to hit 2 million (MT) (We would be lucky to hit 2 million MT) this year,” Mr. Antig said.

The value of banana exports dipped to $1.09 billion from $1.14 billion in the previous year, the FAO said.

“In 2022, the value of the total exports was about $1.09 billion, medyo maliit ’yun, bumagsak ’yun (that is small and reflects a sharp decline). I would say our peak season was in 2019,” said Mr. Antig.

In 2019, the volume of exports was 4.35 MMT, valued at about $1.95 billion, according to the FAO.

Guatemala recently surpassed the Philippines as the number two banana exporter in the world with 2.45 MMT in 2022.

“The only way to survive in this industry is if you’re big and the reason for that is because most of the production costs are fixed,” Mr. Antig said.

According to Mr. Antig, small and medium-sized banana producers who cannot rehabilitate their land or those who do not have easy access to financing either abandon bananas or shift to other commodities resistant to the disease such as coffee, cacao, and corn.

“We are actually trying to develop a new variety that it resistant to the Fusarium wilt but so far we have not really been successful in producing or developing one that is totally resistant,” he said.

He called for the establishment of a research center to combat the disease.

“For the last 10-11 years since we discovered this outbreak of Fusarium wilt, we have been pestering the government to put up a research center because on our own we cannot afford to establish one,” Mr. Antig said.

He said legislators attempted several times to file a bill seeking to establish a banana research institute. “Probably hindi nakita ng ibang mambabatas (Other legislators failed to see its) importance to Mindanao, that’s why it did not pass first reading.”

The Davao Region accounts for about 36% of total banana production with 3.29 MMT in 2022, Mr. Antig said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

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