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Toyota: New light commercial vehicle inspired by Tamaraw

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

CAR manufacturer Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) said that its former Asian utility vehicle Tamaraw would serve as the inspiration for a new light commercial vehicle (LCV) in a bid to support local businesses.

TMP Vice-President Rommel R. Gutierrez told reporters at a media event in Taguig City late Monday that the Tamaraw model would inspire a new model called Toyota Mobility LCV.

“Basically, this (LCV) model is for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It would be inspired by the Tamaraw model. It’s just a concept because the Tamaraw was considered a workhorse,” he said.

His statement comes after news reports claiming that the Tamaraw would be revived in the Philippines as part of the discussions held during the recent five-day official visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to Japan.

“The LCV takes inspiration from the heritage of the iconic Tamaraw, the first Asian utility vehicle (AUV) introduced in the 1970s,” Mr. Gutierrez said.

“As it has been Toyota’s mission to produce ever-better cars, TMP will showcase advancements from Tamaraw and further build on the reliability and flexibility it established for the Filipino customers,” he added.

Mr. Gutierrez said that the LCV is still in its prototype phase, adding that TMP will invest P4.4 billion for the vehicle’s production and parts localization.

“This Toyota Mobility LCV model aims to demonstrate the development of the Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) and Toyota’s future commitment to the Asian market including the Philippines, the third-largest market in the ASEAN region. It is designed to adapt to the usage patterns and lifestyles of Asian customers,” Mr. Gutierrez said.

The Toyota Mobility LCV will be the third completely knocked down (CKD) model introduced by TMP into the country, after the Vios and the Innova. CKD units are vehicles brought into the country for local assembly. 

“There will be no impact on Vios and Innova production,” Mr. Gutierrez said.

“For the details on the production, sales volumes, and prices, TMP can only announce them at the start of local production,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gutierrez said the planned local production of the Toyota Mobility LCV model aims to meet the surging demand in the segment and to provide a “more suitable and affordable option for Filipino entrepreneurs.”

He added that the localization of the planned model would help the company respond to the specialized needs of Philippine customers.

“The introduction of a third CKD model will help sustain automotive manufacturing in the Philippines, especially with the cessation of local production by other original equipment manufacturers,” Mr. Gutierrez said.

“TMP remains committed to the local automotive manufacturing industry in the Philippines despite the difficulties brought by the pandemic and the general economic slowdown. The introduction of a third CKD model will help sustain TMP’s production operations,” he added,

TMP led local car manufacturers in terms of sales for 2022, accounting for 174,106 units sold or 49.38% of total sales, based on figures from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Life insurers eyeing fixed-income market for infrastructure financing

MEMBERS of the Philippine Life Insurance Association, Inc. (PLIA) are looking to tap the fixed-income securities market to participate in infrastructure financing, the group’s president said.

PLIA President Rico T. Bautista, who is the president and chief executive officer of Etiqa Life and General Assurance Philippines, Inc., said in a speech on Tuesday that the group plans to “explore securitization as a pathway to industry participation in infrastructure financing and creating diversity in the fixed-income securities market.”

“Securitization is seen to provide a new source of financing for the significant and growing demand of the infrastructure marketplace,” he added.

He said the PLIA hopes to provide high-quality fixed-income securities that can support the long-term investment objectives of insurance fund managers.

“It is a positive development that securitization has recently been recommended to be part of the blueprint of the Capital Market Development Council, of which PLIA is a member,” Mr. Bautista added.

Aside from this, life insurance companies are also looking to tap digital platforms to improve their operations, he said, as PLIA is aiming to partner with the Insurance Commission (IC) in using artificial intelligence for the online qualifying exams for insurance agents.

An application programming interface (API) for the industry’s medical information database (MID) will also be developed, Mr. Bautista added.

He said the API will provide a secure linkage of the MID with a member company’s internal underwriting applications and would end having to download a decrypted copy of the database on a daily basis.

An industry workshop on technology-enabled growth and transformation opportunities in the insurance industry and the life insurance market will also be sponsored by PLIA, Mr. Bautista said.

The workshop will cover the different stages of digital transformation maturity and highlight strategic trends needed in being digital-ready, he added.

“Participants will go through each stage of the design thinking framework to come up with innovative ideas on how to reimagine the digital insurance customer value proposition,” he said.

“It is hoped that this workshop will provide guidance to our members in developing their digitization strategy,” Mr. Bautista added.

He said PLIA is proposing to add a subject on financial literacy in high school curricula in the country.

Aside from working with the Department of Education, PLIA is also looking at supporting legislative means to implement this.

The life insurance industry posted total premiums of P229.34 billion as of September 2022, slipping from the P230.613 billion a year prior, data from the IC showed.

This caused the sector’s net income to drop by 12.67% year on year to P26.095 billion in the same period. — A.M.C. Sy

German ballet choreographer smears critic with dog excrement, newspapers say

NIHAL DEMIRCI ERENAY/UNSPLASH

BERLIN — Arts critics are used to trashing sub-par performances with negative reviews, but they are rarely on the receiving end of an all-too-literal smear campaign.

This weekend though, the chief choreographer of Hanover State Opera smeared the face of a dance critic with dog excrement after she gave a negative review of his latest show, German newspapers wrote.

Wiebke Hüster, a dance critic for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), was attending the premiere on Saturday of the ballet Glaube – Liebe – Hoffnung (Faith – Love – Hope) at the Hanover State Opera.

During the interval, Marco Goecke, one of the production’s choreographers, confronted Ms. Hüster in the theater’s crowded foyer and smeared her face with dog excrement, newspapers said.

Mr. Goecke, who is Hanover State Ballet’s chief choreographer and director, threatened to ban Ms. Hüster from the theater before removing a bag filled with the feces and wiping its contents in Ms. Hüster’s face, FAZ reported on Sunday.

The exchange followed Ms. Hüster’s negative review of Mr. Goecke’s new show In the Dutch Mountains, which was published in the FAZ on Saturday.

Ms. Hüster wrote that watching the show, which recently opened at Nederlands Dans Theater in The Hague, was like being “alternately driven mad and killed by boredom.”

Hanover State Opera apologized for the episode and said on Monday that Mr. Goecke was being suspended with immediate effect and barred from attending the theater.

“This is not only about the future of Marco Goecke, but also about the future of the over 30-strong ballet ensemble,” the theater said in a statement. “The theater management has a duty of care towards every member of the ensemble.”

FAZ said that a police investigation had been launched.

“This humiliating incident is not only an act of bodily harm but also an attempt to intimidate our free, critical view of art,” the newspaper said. — Reuters

PhilHealth members still pay out of pocket in spite of universal healthcare

FILIPINO “charity patients” fall in line to get served at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila. — BW FILE PHOTO

By Patricia B. Mirasol, Reporter

MEMBERS of state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) still pay out of pocket for medical services despite a law on universal healthcare, according to state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

The elderly, women, rural and poor Filipinos are more likely to spend more, with the national health insurance program coverage limited to 40% of total hospital costs, PIDS said in a December 2022 study.

“Despite modest improvements in health outcomes, inequities continue to exist due to unresolved challenges in access to healthcare,” PIDS senior research fellow Valerie Gilbert T. Ulep, supervising research specialist Jhanna Uy and research consultants Clarisa Joy A. Flaminiano, Vicente Alberto R. Puyat and Victor Andrew A. Antonio said.

“This includes the physical constraints due to lack of health facilities, along with the financial risks of catastrophic health expenses especially for vulnerable populations,” they added.

PIDS computed the “support value” — the percentage of hospital care costs shouldered by PhilHealth — using PhilHealth data from 2018 to 2021, along with data sets from the Department of Health, Philippine Statistics Authority and Washington-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

While 55.83% was found to be the average support value, the rate varied based on membership type, socioeconomic status, patient accommodation, disease classification, hospital ownership and level, and location.

Elderly members got the lowest support value in both public and private hospitals. Poor indirect contributors had a lower average support value than direct contributors such as like employees.

Women faced higher financial risk due to lower incomes and higher hospital admission rates across all age brackets, the think tank said.

This was for “avoidable conditions” such as nutritional deficiencies that could have been addressed through outpatient and preventive care, it added.

The study found that Filipinos in rural areas were likely to spend more because of the uneven distribution of primary care facilities and accredited hospitals that “do not cover the cost of all services.”

Less than a half (43%) of Level 1 hospitals, which offer minimum health services, were government owned.

Out-of-pocket costs are an important indicator of an effective healthcare system, PIDS said in a November 2016 report.

In 2012, about 1.5 million Filipinos spent more than 40% of their earnings on healthcare. Drugs were the major source of out-of-pocket costs.

PIDS recommended a shift in PhilHealth’s service purchasing and revenue generation to guarantee funds for all covered diseases.

It also said the government should increase the support value of the elderly and invest in health literacy.

“Effective financial protection in a health system should reduce out-of-pocket patient costs that are not covered by insurance, as much as possible,” it said in a separate statement.

The state think tank examined the performance of PhilHealth in terms of population coverage (how many people are covered), service coverage (how many people access care) and financial risk protection (how many people are exposed to out-of-pocket payments).

Bayad, Omega BCI partner to boost online bills payment

FREEPIK

BILLS payment firm Bayad has signed a partnership with Omega Business Consulting, Inc. (Omega BCI) to boost its bill payment facility.

“Under the partnership, Bayad will continue to boost the bills payment capability of Omega BCI through its web-based application, Paymybills,” Bayad said in a statement on Tuesday.

To date, the platform has over 91 billers covering payments for electric and water utility, cable and internet, government contributions, loan payments, school tuition fees, online shopping, and insurance, among others.

“Paymybills was borne out of the need to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) conveniently pay for their families’ bills back home, and at the same time help them settle for government contributions, enabling them to save and invest for their future,” Omega BCI President and Chief Executive Emmanuel Masangkay said.

“We strive to go beyond just providing payment services by empowering families to strengthen their relationships as we drive for borderless financial inclusion,” Bayad President Lawrence Y. Ferrer added.

Omega BCI is a financial management service provider that offers accounting, auditing, data processing, and integrated software services to its local and international clients in the retail, banking, and fintech space. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

BPI’s wealth management arm changes business name

THE ASSET MANAGEMENT arm of listed Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has changed its business name to BPI Wealth — A Trust Corporation.

BPI Wealth, formerly known as BPI Asset Management and Trust Corp., said in a statement on Tuesday that it aims to connect with various client segments and promote the company’s expertise as a leader in the asset and wealth management space.

“At BPI Wealth, we will continue to be your trusted partner in navigating volatile financial markets, in guiding investment decisions, in constructing portfolios, and in creating a legacy for future generations. We will continue to offer the best-in-class asset and wealth management solutions to enable you to live your best life,” BPI Wealth President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Theresa D. Marcial said.

“We recognize that our clients want a name they can trust to address their complex financial needs. They want a name they can trust to help grow their hard-earned money. They want a name they can trust so they worry less about their investments, so they can do more, explore more, and live more. That is our brand promise,” she added.

The company said its new name is anchored on its strength in investment process, risk management framework, investment professionals and wealth advisors, and a wide range of innovative investment solutions.

It also represents its renewed commitment to deliver a “superior” customer experience for its individual, corporate, and institutional clients, BPI Wealth said.

Its listed parent BPI booked a net income of P39.6 billion in 2022, 66% higher from the previous year, driven by strong loan growth, higher net interest margins and lower provisions.

BPI’s shares fell by P1.70 or 1.6% to end at P104.30 apiece on Tuesday. — AMCS

The CCP in 2023

The CCP Little Theater under renovation. —PHOTO BY KIKO CABUENA

AS the main building of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) shuts down for the first of a multi-year renovation, the CCP’s programs will be traveling to a variety of performances spaces.

The CCP’s program lineup this year aims to be more accessible and diverse, with live performances, productions, exhibits, as well as training and education programs.

“We hope that through our increased geographical presence and more outreach activities, the public will know that we are relentless in offering arts and cultural experiences for people from all walks of life,” CCP president Margarita “Margie” Moran-Floirendo said in a statement. “While we are temporarily closing our home, our commitment to fulfill our duties will even be intensified.”

CHALLENGES
The program announced during the press conference was not complete as more performances and programs by resident companies will be announced as schedules are firmed up.

CCP Vice-President and Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan said that the chosen titles will depend on how the final venue will measure to their requirements.

“Because of the transfer of the CCP, we are really behind in terms of the fulfillment of the contracts. Because also of the changes of schedule with the transfer of venues we are finalizing those things,” Mr. Marasigan said in a press conference on Feb. 2 at the CCP Black Box Theater.

“One of the problems we are encountering because of the changes in the CCP is that we also lack rehearsal venues. There are certain companies that are having second thoughts about their own seasons,” he added.

THE PROGRAM
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) will present the sixth and seventh concerts of its 38th season on Feb. 24 and March 17 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

Tanghalang Pilipino’s Ang Pag-uusig, the Filipino adaptation of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, will open on Feb. 17 and run until March 12. The play won six Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards (including Outstanding Translation and Outstanding Play) after its first run in April 2018. The Crucible used the setting of the Salem witch trials in the 1690s to comment on the United States government’s persecution in the 1950s of people accused of being communist. Ang Pag-uusig in turn, uses The Crucible to comment on the Philippine situation.

There will also be a three-day festival called Performatura slated on March 31 to April 2 at the CCP’s new black box theater, the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. Performatura is the country’s biggest performance literature festival celebrating the written word, performance, and the rich history of Philippine literature.

On March 28 to April 1, Ballet Philippines will hold a week-long dance celebration featuring characters of Carlo Calma’s Diyosa. To be performed at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater at Circuit Makati, this story is set in a dreamy mythical world depicting Filipino culture and heritage, fusing fashion, art, music, and architecture.

The CCP will also conduct workshops and training programs for young musicians in different regions to upgrade their skills and prepare them for professional careers with the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA).

WEBSITE MAINTENANCE
Meanwhile, the CCP’s official website is undergoing maintenance and will soon be active within the year.

“Our website, once its fully up, will really have a good connection to the archives,” Mr. Marasigan said. “We have not digitized all the collections… we are making sure that the library is going to be up [and running] again as soon as possible.

The digitized collections are accessible at https://collections.culturalcenter.gov.ph/ while the CCP time capsule, which includes text and photos of events and programs, is accessible at https://timecapsule.culturalcenter.gov.ph/.

THE RENOVATIONS HAVE BEGUN
After the National Artist Leondro Locsin-designed main building of the CCP was the named an important cultural property in 2019, it closed this January for the first year of a major three-year renovation.

The redevelopment of the building, which opened in 1969, will retain its architectural design and focus on structural improvements including upgrading its fire, drainage, electrical and environmental protection systems and other changes needed to conform to modern building codes. The project will include climate change adaptation measures to improve energy and water efficiency. The improved facilities will be gender-responsive and inclusive for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

An initial budget of P900 million was allocated for the rehabilitation of the CCP Main Building, which came from an earlier proposed budget for an Artist Center.

The second phase will cover the repair of facilities such as the hydraulic lift, freight elevator, LED lights, rigging system, and acoustics. But given the scale and ambitions for the project, more funds may be needed.

The allotted P900 million will only cover the structural renovations such as plumbing, electrical, and drainage. Additional money will be needed for interior renovations and architectural design.

“We are approximating that it will cost an additional amount of about P200 million, but that is a very conservative amount,” CCP trustee Junie del Mundo said. “X-rays are being taken of the structure [for structural defects] because… we do not want to damage the integrity of the building,” he said.

“We are going to go back to congress for additional appropriation and [will] also tap sponsors to help us with the renovations,” he added.

For more inquiries and information on this year’s programs, visit the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph or like and subscribe to their Facebook Page, Twitter or Instagram accounts. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Early detection of cancer

Breast and cervical cancer are the most common cancers affecting Filipino women. They are highly amenable to early detection and cure, but women continue to die prematurely from these diseases.

Delaying screening and early detection programs is a substantial social and economic burden on individuals, families and the whole society. Effective screening programs drastically improve survival rates for women affected by breast or cervical cancer.

Cancer registration is necessary for cancer control, because knowledge of the country’s particular cancer situation and patterns is needed to make informed decisions on the targeted interventions to reduce incidence and death. High-quality population-based cancer registries at the national level are the ideal standard for cancer registration.

The National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) mandates the establishment of a national population-based cancer registry that covers all forms of cancer among adults and children and serve as a guide for the NICCA Council in policy development. This registry will collect data on all new cases of cancer by geographical region to provide a framework for assessing and controlling the impact of cancer on the community. Cancer registries will form part of the Electronic Medical Record requirement of the Department of Health (DoH), and must comply with the Data Privacy Act.

NICCA contains a comprehensive set of provisions that aims to enhance cancer screening, treatment and survivorship, especially for underprivileged and poor Filipinos. As the country observes National Cancer Awareness Month, the development of a national registry can help ensure the law’s full and effective implementation.

Like in the Philippines, breast and cervical cancer impose a heavy disease burden in many countries in the Americas, where cancer is the second leading cause of death. Each year, 400,000 women in the Americas are diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer, and 92,000 die from breast cancer and 36,000 from cervical cancer, according to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA).

The IFPMA earlier formed a three-year partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Foundation to increase awareness of breast and cervical cancer and improve screening and earlier detection services. Initiatives under this partnership eventually helped build a cancer registry that saved lives.

There was great progress in three main areas in the first year of the partnership. The partnership produced a number of educational materials for the public on breast and cervical cancer prevention, detection and treatment to raise disease awareness and encourage women to go for screening and early detection services.

A pilot project with the Ministry of Health in Chile was implemented to strengthen national cervical cancer screening programs, as well as a series of policy workshops with government officials and health experts. Finally, a cancer registry training was held in 11 countries, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Health information, education and communication activities were developed to raise public awareness and to support an informed, empowered community of women.  A toolkit with educational messages on HPV, HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening and treatment was also created and disseminated throughout the region. Spanish language guidelines for program managers and health professionals on how to design and deliver programs for comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control were shared with the Ministries of Health in Latin America. English language guidelines have also been disseminated.

The partnership also offered healthcare provider training to strengthen the national cervical cancer screening program, focusing on HPV test-based strategies to improve screening coverage and pre-cancer treatment rates. The program likewise disseminated evidence on breast cancer screening and early detection, and trained providers at the primary healthcare level on the early signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Training for primary health providers on visual inspection using acetic acid took place as well as a pilot screening program using HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer.

All these best practices can help inspire activities in the Philippines as both the national and local governments work on the implementation of the cancer law in communities. These efforts will be more successful if conducted in partnership with patients, the medical community and private sector.

 

Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, which represents the biopharmaceutical medicine and vaccine industry in the country. Its members are in the forefront of research and development efforts for COVID-19 and other diseases that affect Filipinos.

Philippines one of most at risk countries to ecological threats

The Philippines scored 5 (out of 5) in the third edition of the Ecological Threat Report (ETR) by the Institute of Economics and Peace. This meant that the country is at “extremely high” risk of natural disasters, food and water insecurity, and rapid population growth.

Philippines one of most at risk countries to ecological threats

Nickel Asia reports better ESG rating

LISTED mining firm Nickel Asia Corp. said on Tuesday that it has scored a performance rating of 33.6 for its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, which is an improvement over its previous 43.7 rating.

In a statement, the company said the score was based on the latest assessment conducted by its external ESG rating partner Sustainalytics for the period December 2022 to February 2023.

“The improvement in our score confirms that our sustainability strategies, practices, and policies as a company have put us on the right track on our journey to achieving our ambitious goal of becoming the premier ESG investment in the Philippines and among the top 25 in market capitalization of the listed companies in the Philippine Stock Exchange,” said Jose Bayani Baylon, senior vice-president for sustainability, risk, corporate affairs, and communications.

“Along the way, we will encounter incidents and controversies, but our vision and our strategy, values, and policies will serve to keep us focused on what we have to do because it is the right thing to do,” he added.

The report covered more than 70 management ESG performance indicators, the company said, adding that the previous rating in July last year covered 30 indicators that were assessed through “publicly available disclosures and followed Sustainalytics’ core framework.”

The 10.1-point improvement in its score placed Nickel Asia under the “high risk” category or those with risk scores between 30 and 40. Its previous rating classified it among “severe risk” firms.

“This means that the firm’s overall management of material ESG issues is strong,” the company said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Arts&Culture (02/15/23)

PETA’s Walang Aray premieres this weekend

THE PHILIPPINE Educational Theater Association (PETA) is to full live performances in the theater with a new original Filipino musical, Rody Vera’s Walang Aray. Presented by PETA with Indie.Go Media, Walang Aray is a genre-defying adaptation of the screenplay Walang Aray, based on Severino Reyes’ classic zarsuela, Walang Sugat. The musical mashes the timeless classic with contemporary language, funk and pop tunes, and tongue-in-cheek humor. This old-meets-new production is directed by Ian Segarra, with original music by Vince Lim, and caps PETA’s emerald year. Walang Aray runs at the PETA-Phinma Theater, PETA Theater Center, New Manila, Quezon City, from Feb. 17 to May 14. For partnerships and show-buying inquiries, contact Mitch Go at 0917-539-1112 or e-mail PETA at petatheater@gmail.com.

Ang Huling El Bimbo tickets go on sale

FULL House Theater Company is bringing back Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in April. The award winning musical features music of one of the most iconic Pinoy rock bands and tells the tale of the friendship of Joy, Hector, Anthony, and Emman as they navigate life. Directed and choreographed by Dexter M. Santos, with a book by Dingdong Novenario, and musical arrangements by Myke Salomon, the new production will include additional scenes and dialogue by Floy Quintos. Original cast members returning for this production include Gian Magdangal, Gab Pangilinan, Topper Fabregas, Jamie Wilson, and Sheila Francisco. Joining them are new cast members Nino Alejandro, Bullet Dumas, Anthony Rosaldo, Paw Castillo, and Katrine Sunga. Tickets are now available at TicketWorld (https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=AHEB23) and SM Tickets outlets, with prices ranging from P1,079 to P3,776. For inquiries and early bird offers and bulk ticket purchases, contact 0917-872-8309, 0917-872-8734, and 0917-872-8765. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/fullhousetheater. 

Ateneo Blue Rep restages Zsazsa Zaturnnah

Ateneo Blue Repertory restages the musical adaptation of the superhero graphic novel, Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah, in March. Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical…‘Yun Lang! is the first onsite show of Ateneo Blue Repertory’s 31st season. Kim Molina plays the titular character. The first stage adaptation of Carlo Vergara’s 2002 graphic novel, Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, was created by Chris Martinez for Cultural Center of the Philippines’ resident theater company Tanghalang Pilipino in 2006. The music, lyrics, and musical direction are by Vincent de Jesus, and it starred Eula Valdez as the super hero Zsazsa Zaturnnah, Tuxqs Rutaquio played her alter ego Ada, and Agot Isidro was the evil Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux. The play was staged multiple times until 2011. Inspired by the Darna story, Zsazsa Zaturnnah follows the beautician Ada who finds a large rock that fell from the sky. Their friend Didi convinces them to swallow it. Upon swallowing the rock, Ada transforms into bombshell superheroine Zsazsa Zaturnnah who battles threats to the town, such as a huge frog and a villainous band of alien women led by Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux. Shows are on March 17-19, 24-26, 30 and 31, and April 1 and 2 at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box Theater, Areté of Ateneo De Manila University, Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ateneobluerepertory.

  

TP’s Ang Pag-uusig premieres this weekend

TANGHALANG Pilipino (TP) presents Ang Pag-uusig on Feb. 17 to March 12 at the Black Box Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Ang Pag-uusig is a Filipino translation of the Tony Award-winning play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The show features TP’s senior actors Marco Viaña, Lhorvie Nuevo, Toni Go, and Jonathan Tadioan. The Crucible used the setting of the Salem witch trials in the 1690s to comment on the United States government’s persecution in the 1950s of people accused of being communist. Ang Pag-uusig in turn, uses The Crucible to comment on the Philippine situation. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/tanghalangpilipino. 

JEFRË holds first museum show in PHL

AFTER a decade creating art worldwide, USA-based Filipino-American artist JEFRË (a.k.a. Jeffrey Manuel) turns to his ancestors’ homeland, the Philippines, with Points of Origin, his first solo museum show in the country, at BGC’s Metropolitan Museum of Manila — or The M — on Feb. 15. The exhibition is a celebration of the monumentality of the artist’s work, and a way of connecting his two homes. Selected pieces from the artist’s portfolio have been scaled down for the show, and his site-specific, monumental sculptures and installations may now be experienced within the walls of the museum. To book a visit, go to https://metmuseum.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=64f1d8c007caed195bea931b5&id=54ee75307c&e=2ed03baaa0.

Filipino and Indian artists hold joint exhibit

The Angono Ateliers Association Philippines (AAAP) and the Arth Art International India, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, present the “Philippines-India Art Exchange 2023” on Feb. 15 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City. With the theme “Art Diversity,” the art exhibit will showcase 68 art pieces by 17 Filipino artists and 17 Indian artists. Philippines-India Art Exchange 2023 will be open for public viewing from Feb. 16 to 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Two shows at Mo_Space

Two shows are opening at Mo_Space gallery on Feb. 18. At the Main Gallery will be Jill Paz’s “Echo of a Site,” presenting the artist’s new series of paintings using Palm Tree imagery. At Gallery 2, Pinky Ibarra Urmaza’s “ARCADIA” will be on show. The artist turns to book covers — a ritual object in itself — to take viewers on a journey of internal wanderings. The exhibits run until March 19.

Art at the National Science Complex

FOR the entire month of February, the Institute of Biology at the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) is showcasing art works by its students, faculty, and family at the IB Auditorium. Works on display range from detailed anatomical drawings to whimsical slices of life. Also on show are intricate sketches of the Philippines’ many kinds of Rafflesia flowers. The exhibit is open to the public until Feb. 28. Admission is free.

2 shows at Xavier School Nuvali

Xavier School Nuvali, the youngest Jesuit school in the Philippines, is the latest breeding ground for the future of Philippine theater. This year, Xavier School Nuvali’s theater clubs are slated to usher in the return of in-person performances starting with Dulaang X performing Christine Bellen-Ang’s musical Si Pilandok at ang Bayan ng Bulawan. Pilandok uses the kwentong-bayan (hometown tales) to challenge both young and old to take part in creating a nation immersed in solidarity, trust, and integrity. Directed by Kim Nathanyel Sejera, and starring the Junior High School students of Dulaang X, Pilandok has performances on Feb. 14, 16, and 17 (contact kimnathanyelasejera@xsn.edu.ph for showtimes and more details). Capping off Xavier School Nuvali’s theater season is the 44th Anniversary Production of Onofre and Joel Pagsanghan’s Sa Kaharian ng Araw. Directed by PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay 2009’s Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Marvin Ong, featuring the Senior High School students of the Xavier Actors Society (xACTs), Kaharian tells the story of two friends on a journey to find the mythical answer to all their problems while discovering the true meaning of friendship, love, and most importantly, self-giving along the way. Kaharian will have performances on Feb. 25, 28, March 3 and 4 (contact marvintong@xsn.edu.ph for showtimes and more details). Both Pilandok and Kaharian will be staged at the John Tiu Ka Cho Multi Purpose Center, Primary Building, in the Xavier School Nuvali Campus.

Columnist shares Siargao move in new book

What started as a story of desperation turned into a beautiful transformation. Mindanao Gold Star Daily columnist David Haldane shares his adventures as he uproots  himself and his wife, Ivy, to the Island of Siargao in a new book entitled A Tooth in My Popsicle. The story recalls Mr. Haldane’s journey leaving his life in Los Angeles, California, to move to his wife’s hometown on the famous but oh-so-foreign island paradise. This book is a compilation of essays about his experience, from first inviting his now-wife to America for a new life to the beauty of hope with two young children. Mr. Haldane is a former Los Angeles Times staff writer with over 20 years of experience at that publication. His two previous books are the award-winning memoir, Nazis & Nudists, and a short-story collection called Jenny on the Street.

How PSEi member stocks performed — February 14, 2023

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

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