Vietnam blocks Sony’s action movie Uncharted over South China Sea map

March 15, 2022 | 12:03 am

Antonio Banderas in Uncharted (2022) — CTMG/IMDB.COM

HANOI — Vietnam has banned Sony’s action movie Uncharted from domestic distribution over a scene featuring a map that shows a disputed line declared by China to stake its claim to large parts of the South China Sea, state media reported on Saturday.

The U-shaped “nine-dash line” is used on Chinese maps to illustrate its claims over vast areas of the resource-rich South China Sea, including swathes of what Vietnam regards as its continental shelf, where it has awarded oil concessions.

Uncharted, an action and adventure film based on a video game series about treasure hunting, stars Tom Holland and was due to hit cinemas nationwide on March 1.

“The film was banned from distribution after we watched it and found it contained an illegal image of the infamous nine-dash line,” state-run Vietnam News Agency reported, citing Vi Kien Thanh, head of the Department of Cinema, a government body in charge of licensing and censoring foreign films.

Vietnam pulled DreamWorks’ animated film Abominable from cinemas in 2019 and ordered Netflix in 2021 to remove some episodes of the Pine Gap series over the same issue.

The Southeast Asian country last week protested twice over military exercises by China and Taiwan in what it describes as its exclusive economic zone, and demanded they respect Vietnam’s sovereignty and legitimate rights at sea. — Reuters

Federal Land unit tops off new Manila Bay condo

March 15, 2022 | 12:02 am

A SUBSIDIARY of real estate developer Federal Land, Inc. recently topped off a new tower at its development in the Manila Bay Area.

Horizon Land completed the structure of the Palm Beach West Coron Tower, the third of the four-tower residential condominium.

“Palm Beach West is a mid-rise development designed to provide its residents a space to unwind and resort-inspired amenities for a relaxing lifestyle,” the company said.

The residential condominium is part of Metro Park, Federal Land’s master-planned community.

BSP looking to require credit allocation for dev’t of new technologies, innovations

March 15, 2022 | 12:02 am

THE CENTRAL BANK wants to require lenders to allocate credit for the development of new technologies and innovations for various services.

Based on a draft circular posted on their website, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) wants lenders to allocate 4% of their loanable funds for innovation development credit.

“The banking system plays a crucial role in providing credit necessary to support the development of new technologies and other innovation-related activities,” it said.

The minimum credit allocation will be up for a joint review by the National Innovation Council and the BSP three years after the circular takes effect.

Eligible loans that can be included as direct compliance under the proposal are those granted to qualified borrowers after Aug. 6, 2019. These borrowings should have been used to develop new technologies and innovations for products, processes, organization, and marketing.

Credit that can be counted as alternative compliance for innovative development will include loans to micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises that have businesses related to e-commerce and supply chain financing.

Banks’ investments in bonds for innovation and those related to food security, blue economy, education, health, clean and renewable energy, climate change, infrastructure, human capital development, digital economy and transportation will also count as alternative compliance.

Lastly, investments in equities of startups may also be counted as compliance, subject to limits set by the central bank.

The proposal showed the BSP is also looking to make innovative development lending serve as an alternative mode of compliance to the mandatory credit allocation for agriculture and agrarian reform.

Failure to meet the minimum 4% quota will result in penalties equivalent to 0.5% of the missed minimum compliance requirement for innovation development.

For its part, the BSP will remit 90% of the total penalties from the non-compliant financial institutions to the Innovation Fund under the National Innovation Council that is meant to strengthen enterprises that develop new solutions. The remaining 10% will be used for the BSP’s administrative expenses.

Stakeholders are given until March 25 to give their feedback on the proposed circular.

The central bank has been supportive of boosting the digital economy as it wants 50% of all payments done online by 2023.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said they will continue to prioritize digitalization efforts that support small businesses.

“Our initiatives include bringing digital payments closer to the people by promoting its use in the most common transaction points for most Filipinos — the community markets and local transportation services such as tricycles,” he said in a virtual speech at the launch of the first Digital Financial Inclusion Awards. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

ICTSI acquires more equipment for MICT operation

March 15, 2022 | 12:02 am

PORT OPERATOR International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) acquired additional equipment to improve its operation at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) at the Port of Manila.

ICSTI said in a statement on Monday that it recently acquired eight new Mitsui hybrid rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes for its container yard at the Port of Manila. The addition of the new RTGs aims to boost the company’s operations amid rising container volumes.

“The latest acquisition expands MICT’s RTG fleet to 52 units — 40 of which are hybrids powered by a combination of lithium-ion battery and smaller diesel engine,” ICTSI said.

“MICT started using hybrid RTGs in 2018 to reduce the terminal’s carbon footprint as it ramps up efforts to become the most sustainable terminal in the Philippines,” the port operator added.

In a recent stock exchange disclosure, ICTSI said its attributable net income for 2021 quadrupled to $428.6 million from $101.8 million in 2020 due to an improved operating income.

The company’s gross revenues from port operations for 2021 climbed by 23.9% to $1.9 billion while its expenses in the similar period declined by 4.7% to $1.1 billion.

On Monday, shares in ICTSI at the local bourse fell by 6.19% or P14 to close at P212 apiece. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Thai boxing chief Chunhavajira elected ASBC president

March 15, 2022 | 12:02 am

THE ASIAN Boxing Confederation (ASBC), the regional association for amateur boxing, held its quadrennial elections for president and members of its Executive Committee at the Marriott Bonvoy Hotel in Amman, Jordan on Saturday.

Elected president was Pichai Chunhavajira, a prominent businessman, corporate executive and sportsman from Bangkok. He is president of the Thailand Boxing Association and also sits as vice-president of the Thailand National Olympic Committee.

The immediate ASBC past president, Anas Al-Otaiba of UAE did not seek re-election leaving Pichai and lone protagonist Uzbek Federation vice-president Saken Polatov to contest the top post.

The 73 year-old Thai won by an 18-11 vote count.

There are 44 member-countries of the ASBC but pandemic concerns prevented several from attending the confab. There was one spoiled ballot from among the 30 votes cast.

Mr. Chunhavajira ran on a platform to help reinstate boxing in the Olympic program, empowerment of national boxing federations, support to all boxers in the region, transparency and good governance, and aggressive marketing to source funds.

Also elected were 11 Board members from different countries in the Asian region.

One of Mr. Pichai’s first acts in his first board meeting which he called right after the election, was to appoint Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ed Picson as Spokesperson and head of ASBC media Affairs. The appointment was upheld by the Board.

He then invited all Board Members to their next meeting which will coincide with the Thailand Boxing Open on April 1-10 in the scenic island of Phuket.

Alec Baldwin says his contract protects him from liability in Rust shooting

March 15, 2022 | 12:02 am

Alec Baldwin in Still Alice (2014) — ALEC BALDWIN/IMDB.COM

LOS ANGELES — Actor Alec Baldwin said in a legal filing on Friday that his Rust movie contract protects him from financial liability in the fatal shooting of the film’s cinematographer.

Mr. Baldwin has been named as a defendant in several civil lawsuits including one from the husband of Halyna Hutchins, who was killed in October when a gun the actor was using during a rehearsal fired off a live bullet.

In addition to playing the lead role, Mr. Baldwin served as a producer of the film.

In an arbitration demand filed against fellow producers, Mr. Baldwin seeks to enforce a “broad indemnification clause” in his contract that his lawyers said shields him from financial claims regarding the production.

Mr. Baldwin has said he was heartbroken by the incident but does not believe he bears any responsibility because he was told the Colt .45 revolver he was handed was “cold,” an industry term meaning it is safe to use. He has said he pulled the gun’s hammer back but did not pull the trigger.

Rust, a Western, was being filmed at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico. Authorities in Santa Fe are investigating the incident and say they have not ruled out criminal charges. A key question is how live ammunition wound up on the set.

In the new filing, attorneys said he provided creative input in his producing role and did not hire any crew members, who were the people responsible for ensuring gun safety procedures were followed.

“This is a rare instance when the system broke down, and someone should be held legally culpable for the tragic consequences,” the filing said. “That person is not Alec Baldwin.”

Matthew Hutchins, the cinematographer’s husband, argued in his lawsuit that Mr. Baldwin bore responsibility because he fired the gun and should have checked that it did not contain live rounds. — Reuters

DMCI Homes to develop project in Tandang Sora

March 15, 2022 | 12:01 am

DMCI Project Developers, Inc. (DMCI Homes) is developing a new condominium project in Quezon City.

The Erin Heights is located along Commonwealth Avenue corner Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City. It will have 54 residential floors and offer studio, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom unit configurations ranging from 28.5 square meters (sq.m.) to 87 sq.m.

“Beyond the advantageous location, what makes The Erin Heights even more a profitable property investment is its promise of a plush and modern lifestyle that promotes a healthy work-life balance in the new normal,” the company said in a statement.

The Erin Heights will feature a modern tropical design concept. It targets young professionals, families and investors.

Amenities include the Sky Deck, co-working space, fitness gym, game area, a roof deck lap pool, a leisure pool, a pool deck, a shooting court, kiddie pool and playground.

“The Erin Heights is set to open its doors to residents in October 2027. Units are now pre-selling at a starting price of P5,062,000,” the company said.

Hitachi seeking to bring digital payment solutions to the PHL

March 15, 2022 | 12:01 am

HITACHI Ltd. is planning to roll out its digital payment solutions in the Philippines as the Japanese conglomerate ramps up its business in the country.

“(Digital payments) would be serving the manufacturing sector and the banking sector as well as small and medium businesses,” Hitachi Asia Corporate Strategy General Manager Gerald Hane said in a virtual interview.

The company’s services could be used to connect unbanked Filipinos to digital payments, he said.

“We have some experience in other countries, but in the Philippines, this is something we’re moving toward. It is to be deployed.”

Hitachi Payment Services Pvt. Ltd. offers point of sale systems, internet payments solutions for e-commerce, and transit technology for metro rail projects, among others.

A business-to-business firm, Mr. Hane said the company provides the underlying technology or backbone behind digital payments.

The company has rolled out cash recycling machines used for deposits and withdrawals in the Philippines.

“Hitachi has installed over 1,200 of these cash recycling machines in Manila, and some surrounding cities as well,” Mr. Hane said.

The conglomerate works on projects in water, renewable energy, mobility, and financial services.

In the Philippines, the company is working on desalination projects and is eyeing transport projects.

“One of Hitachi’s offerings is in the area of mass transit, and that is both in the electrification of buses as well as trains. So trains are a long-standing business line for Hitachi, and that’s been expanding globally,” Mr. Hane said.

“In the Philippines, Hitachi is interested in also contributing to this area of mobility leveraging its capability of trains, and will hopefully be able to contribute to projects such as the North-South commuter railway, which is one area in which Hitachi is interested.” — Jenina P. Ibañez

Optum explores expansion opportunities

March 15, 2022 | 12:01 am

HEALTH services innovation firm Optum Global Solutions Philippines is on the lookout for expansion opportunities in the country, a company official said.

Optum Philippines Managing Director Ivic Mueco said in a recent virtual round table discussion that the information technology business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) company is targeting to broaden its operations.

“Like any IT-BPO operator, we always look at opportunities to grow in the Philippines. Yes, we continue to look at opportunities to expand,” Ms. Mueco said.

Darwin Mariano, Optum Philippines vice-president for external affairs, said the company is committed to the Philippines amid global issues such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

However, Mr. Mariano declined to disclose specific details on the company’s expansion plans.

“We are committed to the Philippines. Unfortunately, it would be premature to be able to talk about specific sites or specific headcount expansion given the fluid environment,” Mr. Mariano said.

“Hopefully, we are at the tail end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and then we are also facing a lot of global concern around what is happening in Ukraine. Alongside that is the pressures coming from the rising prices of oil. These are some of the macroeconomic factors that are directly impacting the company’s thinking,” he added.

According to Ms. Mueco, the company has about 19,000 employees in the Philippines. Of the total, 25% to 30% are working on-site, she added.

Optum Philippines has offices in Cebu, Taguig City, Quezon City, and Muntinlupa City. The company has been operating in the Philippines since 2011.

“A big majority of our [employees] are still working from home,” Ms. Mueco said.

Further, Ms. Mueco said hybrid work is in the future of BPO firms, adding that the work arrangement is one of the “great things” that the COVID-19 pandemic had introduced.

“We’re able to tap talent regardless of where they are and not based on the [location of the] site. We’ve started to tap some markets here and there, testing out the work-from-home (WFH) arrangement without being tethered to a site,”she said.

“It is important for us to have care and compassion [for employees], and part of that is how they would want to work in the future and what would make sense for them so we are able to keep them and so they are able to grow their careers in the organization,” she added.

Meanwhile, Optum Philippines announced that it is offering projects for registered Filipino nurses such as the USRN Academy and RN Ready Plus program.

USRN Academy is an online self-paced training for the company’s nurses that enables them to transition from a Philippine-registered nurse to a US-registered nurse in a span of 26 weeks.

In collaboration with medical and academic partners, RN Ready Plus is a program that allows non-Optum nursing students and working nurses to have access to online, self-paced, and on-demand courses relevant to their career development and at par with global standards.

Optum Philippines is part of a healthcare and well-being company with global headquarters in the US. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

PBA prospect Jason Brickman leads Kaohsiung over Taichung, 98-81

March 15, 2022 | 12:01 am

TOP Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) prospect Jason Brickman continued his fine play for Kaohsiung Aquas in the T1 League of Taiwan after uncorking a season-best 15 assists over the weekend at the National Taiwan University of Sport.

The Filipino-American facilitator added 10 markers, four boards and two steals as Kaohsiung trumped the Taichung Suns led by his compatriot Jordan Heading, 98-81.

Behind Mr. Brickman’s crafty play, Kaohsiung solidified hold of top spot with a 14-9 card.

Mr. Heading, the first pick of Terrafirma in the 2021 PBA special draft and a Gilas Pilipinas cadet, bled for only two markers as Taichung slid to 11-8.

Mr. Brickman is expected to banner this year’s draft class after missing the cut in 2021 due to eligibility requirements that the PBA has already relaxed since.

In the Japan B.League, former NLEX star guard Kiefer Ravena missed the game-winner as the Shiga Lakestars fell to their sixth straight loss at the hands of Seahorses Mikawa, 93-91.

Mr. Ravena had 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists for Shiga, which stumbled to 10-24 card at 18^th place of the 22-team B.League. — John Bryan Ulanday

Entertainment News (03/15/22)

March 15, 2022 | 12:01 am

274767245_139465388551957_9018378207761022738_n — FACEBOOK.COM/MANOPOLEGACY

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The Kingmaker is now streaming for free on Vimeo

LAUREN Greenfield’s documentary The Kingmaker, which tells the story of the Marcos dictatorship through the eyes of former first lady Imelda Marcos, is now streaming for free on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/358556466). The streaming was made possible through an arrangement with its distributors ABS-CBN and iWantTFC.

Mano Po returns as a rom-com

GMA NETWORK continues the Mano Po Legacy with its second installment of the series, Mano Po Legacy: Her Big Boss. This time, instead of being a family drama as all the movies and series of the Mano Po franchise are, this installment is a romantic comedy. It stars Bianca Umali, Ken Chan, and Kelvin Miranda, along with Teejay Marquez, Sarah Edwards, and Sarah Holmes, Haley Dizon, Blue Cailles, Kate Yalung, and veteran actors Ricardo Cepeda, Marina Benipayo, Arlene Muhlach, and Pokwang. The show airs on GMA Telebabad at 9:45 p.m.

Pinoy wins streaming music tilt

A FILIPINO won the Uplive Worldstage Global Singing Competition (formerly known as Singing for the World), which streamed worldwide via the Uplive app. Grand Prize winner Harvey Dave Nino, 22, from Isabela province, bested 19 other finalists who were chosen from thousands of competitors from around the world. He won a record deal, cash prize, and a song and video to be produced by a Grammy-winning producer. ABS-CBN is the official media partner of Uplive WorldStage. Pinoy pop groups BINI and BGYO were special guests on the show, and performed their respective hits “Born To Win” and “The Baddest.” The grand finals were streamed on the Uplive app with catch-up shows viewable on ABS-CBN’s digital platforms, iWantTFC and ABS-CBN Entertainment’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

How PSEi member stocks performed — March 14, 2022

March 15, 2022 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Monday, March 14, 2022.