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Powertrains and promises

Geely intends to have BEV, HEV, and long-range PHEV vehicle models as the core of its product offerings. — PHOTO FROM GEELY

Geely looks to get ahead of the future

THE GEELY Auto Group — which by now is no stranger to the Philippine motoring public — very recently revealed some amazing news about its big plans for the future.

Firstly, it officially launched a new global powertrain brand, Leishen Power, and with it, a new, world-class modular intelligent hybrid powertrain platform, called Leishen Hi-X. The latter carries not only an engine with ultra-high thermal efficiency (at an impressive 43.32%), but also the world’s most advanced three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). Moreover, the Leishen Hi-X will boast of full powertrain firmware over the air (FOTA) updating capabilities, alongside a 40% reduction in fuel consumption (per its NEDC rating). Having said all that, the Hi-X is now the industry’s most adaptable and expandable powertrain in terms of space, levels of electrification and power delivery.

Think about it. This new intelligent hybrid powertrain platform can soon be used for vehicles in the A- to C-segments for any of the models carried by brands within the Geely Auto Group. Though the first models which it says will be bestowed with the Leishen Hi-X platform powertrain system are those under its “Star series,” namely: the Xing Yue (Tugella) and Xing Rui (Preface) vehicles.

Secondly — and quite timely for the 2021 Glasgow International Climate Change Conference that is currently ongoing in Scotland — the Geely Auto Group also officially unveiled its Smart Geely 2025 Strategy. It is basically the group’s road map that outlines the future development of more electric vehicles and sustainably developed central components for vehicles. Among the highlights of this disclosure is how Geely intends to have BEV, HEV, and long-range PHEV vehicle models as the core of its product offerings.

Furthermore, the group also wishes to underline its unwavering commitment toward sustainable development, and having said so, wish to reduce total emissions by 25% by the year 2025 (that’s almost just three years from now!). Ultimately, the brand wishes to achieve carbon neutrality in its business by 2045.

China is the world’s biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and in its updated pledges during the ongoing Glasgow Climate Change Summit, it includes promising its country’s emissions to be cut to “net zero” by the year 2060. The Geely Auto Group definitely appears to be in line with achieving this goal, if not already ahead of schedule.

Both the announcements of the Smart Geely 2025 Strategy and the launch of its new Leishen Power brand represent the group’s acceleration towards its ideal of becoming a technology-led, global automotive group committed to technological innovations. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that this is also forecast to boost Geely Auto’s sales (across the Geely Auto, Lynk & Co., Geometry, and Zeekr brands) to 3.65 million units by 2025. In case you are not familiar, Zeekr is its premium electric vehicle brand, and it already aims to contribute about 650,000 units to the Group’s annual sales figure by 2025.

Furthermore, Geely sees itself focusing on developing its markets in the Eastern Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asian, and South American markets. It plans to introduce new energy products to the EU and to Asia-Pacific markets, as well as expand its presence in Russia, Australia, and New Zealand.

By 2023, the Geely Auto Group will also be launching a new battery-swapping mobility brand, and alongside it five new smart “battery-swapping” electric models. Also by 2023, Geely plans to begin its mass production of silicon carbide power modules for its 800V car technologies. So far, that’s already a lot of great things to watch for from the forward-thinking Chinese multinational automotive company headquartered in Hangzhou.

In a nutshell, Smart Geely 2025 capitalizes on three smart systems to seamlessly achieve its ambitious goals: smart power, smart manufacturing, and smart service. Technology has always been a main driving force behind Geely, and it sure looks like it’s all primed to bring the future of automotive tech to its consumers.

Aboitiz Group sees growth for business units

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) is optimistic about the growth of its business units, including its land, infrastructure, and food firms.

AEV expects its property business, AboitizLand, Inc., to exceed its year-end target by 10%, closing at P4.2 billion. The listed company sees this as AboitizLand’s “strongest performance in history,” owing to a shift in consumer preferences during the lockdown.

On the back of increased construction activity and stronger sales, AboitizLand’s residential business contributed 73% of total revenue.

“AboitizLand sales continue to perform strongly, with our 2021 target in reservations already achieved as of [the third quarter],” David L. Rafael, AboitizLand president and chief executive officer (CEO), said at a briefing on Thursday last week.

“We have generated P3.7 billion, an 89% increase versus the previous year, resulting from improved sales operations across the different projects and continued efforts in building up sales momentum,” he added.

The real estate firm will also be working with Aboitiz-led UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered sales program to address its problems on forfeitures.

“We’re developing a program using AI that will allow us a reasonable expectation of a buyer given certain parameters, given certain information of their probability of forfeiting their accounts. That should help us in reducing cancelation of sales,” Mr. Rafael said.

Meanwhile, Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. said the first phase of its LIMA estate’s industrial expansion is “substantially complete” and that 80% of its inventory has been reserved.

Phase 2 construction, which will add 49 hectares to its inventory, will start in January next year.

Aboitiz InfraCapital President and CEO Cosette V. Canilao also said the unit is “assessing the opportunity” to bid for PLDT, Inc.’s telecommunications towers via Unity Digital Infrastructure, Inc.

For its part, food holding firm Pilmico & Gold Coin Group said it will open two new The Good Meat physical stores before the end of the year, bringing its total to three.

The food group also announced the completion of mills in Malaysia and Vietnam. It also aims to complete its warehouse expansion in Indonesia by the first quarter of 2022.

“Once completed, the facility will help improve efficiencies, stability of production, and reduce the need for external warehouse dependencies,” Pilmico President and CEO Tristan S. Aboitiz said.

The group has already begun building new mills in Vietnam and China.

AEV said on Thursday it expects to complete Pilmico’s third breeder farm in Nueva Ecija by June next year. It will have a 2,500-sow level capacity.

AEV earned P19.5 billion in core net income from January to September, up 133% year on year, while its consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) increased 28% to P49.5 billion.

Meanwhile, listed Aboitiz Power Corp. accounted for 58% of total income contributions in the first nine months of the year, followed by banking arm UnionBank with 26%, Pilmico Foods Corp. with seven percent, Aboitiz InfraCapital with six percent, and AboitizLand with three percent.

“If the trends hold up — our business units have been performing well [while] our EBITDA has been growing quarterly — I think that bodes well for us,” Manuel R. Lozano, chief finance officer of AEV, said.

On Friday, shares of AEV at the stock exchange climbed 0.88% or 45 centavos to close at P51.45 apiece.

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

Company teaches how to do live selling online

TECH STUDIO

MANY people have fought over a bag or a book during a social media live selling gig, where shoppers can tune in to a livestream while a host displays their wares (sort of like an auction). But for those interested in being on the other side of the camera, a company which started in 2019 has studios and training programs for live sellers and brands to showcase their items for better exposure and sales.

Hiyasmin Neri-Soyao, Shoppertainment Live CEO and former home shopping television host, opened her own selling studio in 2019 — a rudimentary one then with just a blanket and a ring light, she said during a press conference on Oct. 20. In the intervening two years, they’ve upgraded a lot, with seven studios — called “Livestyle” studio sets — in Quezon City which are equipped with different features for different categories: style studios for fashion and beauty, kitchen studios for cooking and home appliances, lifestyle studios for talk shows and homecare, technology studios for mobile and gadgets, and music studios and recreation studios for entertainment.

“With more studios, we expect more action for the market. The team’s confidence stems from handling the smallest local businesses to the biggest global brands as part of our roster of clients. Shoppertainment Live’s strength is making products sellable, handling diverse products such as cosmetics, clothing, electronics, and everything in between,” she said in a statement.

Shoppertainment Live enables big advertising agencies, multinational companies such as Unilever, Del Monte, etc., and e-commerce giants, namely Lazada and Shopee, to properly sell their products in an online broadcast setup, with in-house presenters from their talent pool.

During the press conference, she pointed out that in China during the pandemic’s early days in 2020, the live selling business earned $168 billion in revenue.

As for their team, they’ve done about 1,000 livestream e-commerce campaigns, partnered with 150 brands, and hit an average between 80-100 livestreams every month.

In a statement, she said, “Shoppertainment Live has seen 200% growth from its numbers last year in terms of the demand for livestreams from brands.” During the press conference, she said, “When you put it on social media, most of the people would really look for entertainment. When it comes to e-commerce platforms, they really have more intent to buy.”

Shoppertainment Live also launched an incubation program for influencer sellers (who are called “influensales”) through the Shoppertainment Academy, a company initiative that educates and equips Shoppertainment Live presenters to be sale-centric, entertaining, and engaging to the market.

Lawrence Lee, the company’s Chief Broadcast Officer, said that the Shoppertainment Live studios have the capability to produce 50 livestreams in a 12-hour day.

Mr. Lee, who once produced and directed home shopping TV broadcasts through ACJ O Shopping that once aired on ABS-CBN, said that during his stint on ACJ O Shopping, he had been sent to the South Korean headquarters of O Shopping (by home shopping company EJ ENM). There, he learned how to demonstrate a product properly. “There’s an art behind showcasing a product onscreen — how to sell and be creative the right way.” And that is just one thing that Shoppertainment Academy will teach. — JL Garcia

Indigenous community ventures into Cardava banana to expand income from traditional crops

BANGSAMORO.GOV.PH

UPLAND FARMERS in Maguindanao, mostly members of the Teduray indigenous people, have started developing an initial five-hectare area to plant the Cardava banana variety to diversify their income sources away from traditional crops such as rice and corn.

“I hope that this will encourage other people to go into Cardava planting (and not just Cavendish which is the traditional export variety) because there is also available market and good income for Cardava,” Ishak V. Mastura, chair of the regional Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBoI), said following the Oct. 29 groundbreaking ceremony for the project.

The BBoI helped forge a partnership between Datucampong Banana Plantation, the new investor, and Usman Banana Plantation, the source of Cardava seedlings which provides technical as well as marketing assistance.

Datucampong is planning to develop a 50-hectare area for Cardava.

Cardava, called kamison in Maguindanao and more commonly known as saba in other parts of the country, is usually used for cooking and processing. It is also exported frozen in vacuum packaging.

“We are also eyeing future ventures to develop 150 hectares of Cavendish Banana Plantation here in the area that will generate at least 250 jobs, mostly for the local resident farmers,” Mr. Mastura added.

In August, the BBoI held a forum for farmers and residents of South Upi, North Upi and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao to present agribusiness opportunities and available assistance to farmers. — Marifi S. Jara

Peso may decline vs the dollar on expectations of weak GDP

THE PESO may depreciate versus the greenback this week amid expectations of slower economic growth in the third quarter. 

The local unit closed at P50.33 per dollar on Friday, gaining 26.5 centavos from its P50.595 finish on Thursday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso also appreciated by 8.5 centavos from its finish of P50.415 per dollar a week earlier.

The local unit’s Friday close was its strongest since it ended at P50.27 on Sept. 22, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

Positive market sentiment on the back of improved external trade also supported the peso on Friday, Mr. Ricafort said.

Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the trade deficit widened by 14% to $4 billion in September from the $3.51-billion gap in August and by 67% compared with the $2.27-billion deficit a year earlier.

That month, imports rose by 24.8% to $10.67 billion from a year earlier, while exports increased by 6.3% to $6.68 billion.

The widely expected decision of the US Federal Reserve to announce the start tapering its asset purchases while maintaining rates near zero also boosted the peso, UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said.

The Fed, as widely expected, announced on Wednesday that it would begin reducing its $120 billion in monthly purchases of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities at a pace of $15 billion per month, with a plan to end the purchases altogether in mid-2022, Reuters reported.

Fed Chairman Jerome H. Powell also said they could stay patient and keep rates low to support the economy as the job market remains weak.

Peso-dollar trading week could be affected by the third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data set to be released by the PSA on Nov. 9, RCBC’s Mr. Ricafort said.

A BusinessWorld poll of 18 economists yielded a median estimate of 4.7% for third quarter GDP growth. If realized, this would be slower than the 11.8% expansion seen in the April to June period but still better than the 11.5% contraction a year earlier.

Analysts said the lockdown imposed amid the Delta variant surge last quarter likely dented growth.

Meanwhile, UnionBank’s Mr. Asuncion said the market will also consider the US nonfarm payrolls data released last week.

Reuters reported Friday that US employment gains were better than expected in October as challenges caused by the infection surge during the summer season subsided.

The US Labor department said nonfarm payrolls rose by 531,000 jobs last month, higher than the 312,000 logged in September as well as the 450,000 jobs estimated by economists in a Reuters poll. 

For this week, Mr. Asuncion said he expects the local unit to move within P50.40 to P50.90, while Mr. Ricafort gave a stronger forecast range of P50.15 to P50.60 per dollar. — Luz Wendy T. Noble with Reuters

New Suzuki S-Presso Special Edition highlights model’s mini-SUV image

PHOTO FROM SUZUKI PHILIPPINES, INC.

SUZUKI PHILIPPINES, Inc. (SPH) unboxes a new variant of its affordable, quality S-Presso hatchback. Since its launch in March of last year, the S-Presso has made an impact in the market as “a vehicle that redefines excitement and fun that can surely boost… adventures on the road.”

The new Suzuki S-Presso Special Edition is said to highlight a “retro design infused with modern features.” Like the only other variant, it is fitted with halogen headlights and a four-slot grille which pays homage to Suzuki’s brand identity. The S-Presso Special Edition receives black cladding and skid plates which serve to heighten its “athletic mini-SUV look,” said the company. On its side profile, is a high visual line that aims to make it look taller. Adding to the new look are stylish alloy wheels and a rear upper spoiler.

Inside, the Suzuki S-Presso Special Edition is complemented with silky silver accent on the center console, A/C louver, and side-door molding.

The S-Presso Special Edition comes in a unique colorway, Starry Blue Pearl, “leaving a lasting impression to those who spot the automobile on the road.” It is priced at P568,000. For more information, contact or visit any of Suzuki’s 73 dealerships nationwide or visit the online showroom at www.auto.suzuki.com.ph.

Focus on RE capacity-building, active mobility needed

EDUCATION and support for active mobility are critical as the Philippines strives to become more climate friendly, a climate and energy policy group said.

Arturo A. Tahup, associate for community resilience at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), called on the private sector to not only invest in renewables, but also invest in courses to help educate people in managing renewable energy (RE) systems.

“Invest in education and capacity-building courses so that we can have more trained, educated, and empowered RE technicians and engineers,” Mr. Tahup said at a virtual forum last week.

Small islands and coastal communities are said to be the most vulnerable to climate impacts. Access to electricity is also one of the pressing issues, however, Greenergy Solar PH Co-Founder Philline Marie P. Donggay said this is an opportunity “to provide clean energy systems.”

Meanwhile, Arielle Celine L. Tabinga, urban transition analyst at the ICSC, stressed that the “mobility revolution” is underway.

Citing a report by the IEA (International Energy Agency) and the International Council on Clean Transportation in 2018, she said the transport sector is the largest source of global transport emissions accounting for 24% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for the year’s study.

Nearly half or 45.1% of the emissions come from passenger road transport, which includes cars, motorcycles, buses, and taxis. It is also expected to grow at a faster rate compared with other sectors such as freight road transport, aviation, shipping, and rail, among others.

“The level of air pollution that we have… is essentially equivalent to every Filipino smoking one cigarette per day,” said Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) Analyst Isabella L. Suarez.

She said greenhouse gas emissions also contribute to air pollution, which is said to be the “leading environmental health threat” in the Philippines. The economic impact of poor air is also affecting healthcare costs as well as the ability to work.

“The estimates are essentially equivalent to 23% of our GDP (gross domestic product) in 2019,” Ms. Suarez said. “With the level of air pollution that we are breathing and the impacts on our health and cost and spending, it’s scraping 23% of our GDP every year.”

On the other hand, ICSC’s Ms. Tabinga noted that one of the solutions to reduce CO2 emissions is a shift to the “most efficient modes,” an example of which is non-motorized transport.

The private sector, as well as the government, is urged to promote programs that enable active mobility, like cycling and walking.

“Not only does active mobility [reduce] emissions, it also taps into the concerns [and] takes into consideration [issues such as] equity and accessibility,” Ms. Tabinga said.

The Mobility Awards recognizes establishments as well as cities that are deemed “bicycle-friendly.” CREA’s Ms. Suarez said, “Companies that invest in solutions to address air pollution can simultaneously reduce their carbon footprint.”

“We believe that businesses, together with the local governments, have an essential role to play in developing programs where the ultimate aim is not defined by scale or size, but their impact on the working households in the country,” Ms. Tabinga said. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Yields on government debt inch up on inflation, Fed meeting

DEBT YIELDS at the secondary market mostly rose last week on still elevated inflation and the US central bank’s policy meeting.

Yields on government securities (GS) increased by 4.46 basis points (bps) on average week on week, based on PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service Reference Rates as of Nov. 5 published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website.

At the short end of the curve, rates of the 91- and 364-day Treasury bills (T-bills) inched up by 0.33 bp and 3.22 bps, respectively, to 1.2164% and 1.655%. Meanwhile, the six-month paper’s rate inched down by 0.61 bp to finish at 1.4427%.

At the belly, yields on the two-, three-, four-, five-, and seven-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) rose by 3.7 bps (to 2.4128%), 8.3 bps (to 2.9645%), 12.28 bps (to 3.4782%), 13.66 bps (to 3.9137%), and 11.02 bps (to 4.5083%), respectively.

Meanwhile, yields on the 20- and 25-year T-bonds fell by 4.62 bps to 5.109% and 8.84 bps to 5.1254%, respectively. On the other hand, the rate of the 10-year paper increased by 10.61 bps to end the week at 4.9573%.

A trader said debt yields inched higher after the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) last week awarded T-bonds at a higher-than-expected rate.

“It didn’t help that market also anticipated the consumer price index data, which despite coming lower than expected failed to calm the selling pressure,” the trader said in a Viber message.

The government made a full award of the reissued T-bonds it offered on Wednesday as rates went up, with the market anticipating the result of the US Federal Reserve’s policy review.

The BTr raised P35 billion as planned via the reissued five-year T-bonds with a remaining life of four years and five months.

Tenders reached P46.65 billion, higher than the offer but lower than the P56.08 billion in bids fetched the last time these debt papers were auctioned off on Oct. 12, where the government made a full award.

The five-year notes fetched an average rate of 3.762%, up by 18.6 bps from the 3.576% quoted for the tenor during the previous auction.

Meanwhile, inflation eased to a three-month low in October amid a slower increase in food prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday. Headline inflation settled at 4.6%, slower than the 4.9% median estimate of 21 analysts in a BusinessWorld poll.

The October figure was slower than the 4.8% in September, but faster than 2.5% a year earlier. Still, this was the third straight month inflation exceeded the 2-4% target of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the year. Inflation has topped the BSP target this year except in July.

This brought headline inflation for the first 10 months to 4.5%, faster than the 4.4% forecast by the central bank for the year.

The market also priced in the policy meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee last week, where it announced its plan to start reducing its monthly asset purchases, as expected, another trader said. 

“There was some caution ahead of the US Federal Reserve policy meeting,” the second trader said in an e-mail.

The Fed on Wednesday announced it will start reducing its monthly Treasury asset purchases, although it maintained policy rates near zero. Both are in line with market expectations.

For this week, yields could continue to rise ahead of key local and US data.

“Local yields this week are seen to move with some upward bias as the likely stronger US consumer and producer inflation reports might reinforce more hawkish views by market participants,” the second trader said.

“This upside, however, might be limited due to some market caution ahead of the third- quarter Philippine (gross domestic product) growth report,” he added.

Third-quarter GDP data will be released by the PSA on Nov. 9. A BusinessWorld poll of 18 economists yielded a median estimate of 4.65% for third-quarter GDP growth. If realized, this would be slower than the 11.8% expansion seen in the April to June period but better the 11.5% contraction in the same period last year.

Analysts said the lockdown imposed amid the fresh surge in coronavirus cases due to the Delta variant last quarter likely dented growth.

“Expect upward pressure on yields and wait for more clues on the weekly auctions,” the first trader said. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Style (11/08/21)

Merrell releases limited edition Funfetti MOAB 2 Boot

OUTDOOR lifestyle brand Merrell has been at the forefront of the hiking shoe category for 40 years. Known for the Moab boot — a staple in yearly lists for “the best hiking boots” by The New York Times, Travel and Leisure, and Forbes — Merrell has a devoted fanbase that spans hardcore hikers to those who embrace outdoor fashion. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the “Mother of All Boots” is given the funfetti treatment from its uppers down to its outsoles. The Funfetti Moab 2 Mid Waterpoof bears the hallmarks of the regular Moab such as durable leather uppers, a supportive footbed, and incredible on-trail traction. The uppers are reimagined in off-white while the speckled Vibram outsole is supposed to imitate rainbow sprinkles. The boot is punctuated by multicolor laces that tie the birthday theme together. These shoes may look like a sweet treat but they’re made to perform in the trails. This limited-edition Moab comes in whole men’s sizes from 7 to 12. Shop the Moab 2 Funfetti in Merrell concept stores nationwide and online at www.merrell.com.ph.

Unbox gifts from Korres

GREEK skincare brand Korres was born out of Athens’ oldest homeopathic pharmacy in 1996. This festive season, the brand is highlighting Korres Pure Greek Olive with an extensive selection of skincare, body care, and lip care essentials, as well as the Korres Eau De Toilette Collection featuring scents that tell different stories. One of the best-selling products, the Pure Greek Olive 3in1 Nourishing Oil, is rich in organic extra virgin olive oil and reinforced with a mixture of vitamins C, E, F, and omega-6 fatty acids for smooth and elastic skin. This multitasking product can also be used to achieve shiny, silky hair and prevent breakage and frizz. For removing impurities and make-up, there is Pure Greek Olive 3-in-1 Cleansing Emulsion. Another product is the creamy exfoliator Pure Greek Olive Creamy Exfoliating Scrub which has natural olive stone grains to effectively get rid of dead skin cells. To keep skin moisturized throughout the day without the sticky feeling, there is a lightweight day cream, the Pure Greek Olive Moisturizing Day Cream. Pure Greek Olive Nourishing Night Cream is enriched with antioxidant olive leaf extract, extra virgin olive oil, and hyaluronic acid. For lips, the Pure Greek Olive Lip Oil will keep them plump and supple. The ultra-hydrating lip oil also adds shimmer and a shiny finish. Pure Greek Olive Traditional Soap is a 100% natural olive oil soap base that gently cleanses the skin and leaves behind a soft and supple feel. The Pure Greek Olive Showergel is available in different, scents like olive blossom, verbena, sea salt, golden apple, lime, pomegranate, and peach blossom. It can be paired with Pure Greek Olive Body Cream which is available in the same scents. Other products are Pure Greek Olive Body Balsam and Pure Greek Olive Hand Cream. Korres also has a line of fragrances including Morning Mimosa, Vanilla Freesia, White Tea, Mountain Pepper, and Oceanic Amber. Korres products are available in select Beauty Bar stores, beautybar.com.ph, trunc.ph, and the Korres Flagship Store in LazMall.

Montblanc releases eco-conscious bags

MONTBLANC is introducing Montblanc Blue Spirit, a collection of bags and accessories containing regenerated fabric and other environmentally conscious materials. The bags are crafted for customers who care about their environmental footprint while expressing themselves through their style. All the material used in the eco-friendly line was selected to minimize environmental impact, starting with the fabric used both externally and for the lining of each piece — a sustainable nylon yarn called Econyl which is made of waste like fishing nets, carpets, and fabric scraps. Econyl can be recycled infinitely without losing its quality. The collection uses leather made with less water, chemical products, and CO2 emissions. The stainless steel in the detailing in 100% recyclable. Every detail made from plastic including the closures and buckles in certain styles have had a previous life. The straps are made with recycled polyester (Rpet or rePET) that is almost identical to virgin polyester in terms of quality, but its production requires 59% less energy and results in a 32% decrease in CO2 emissions. An internal leather tag stitched inside each of the pieces features a manifesto: “Those who dare, those who will, those who care make the difference.” The full Montblanc Blue Spirit assortment includes two city backpacks, a tote with straps so it can be worn as a backpack, an envelope bag to be worn over the shoulder and a mini envelope, a belt bag, and a duffle, wash bag, a pouch, and a case for overnight trips.

Uniqlo has offers, promos for holidays

GLOBAL apparel retailer Uniqlo will have a series of mega sales and promotions leading up to Christmas. The festivities begin with the 11.11 on Nov. 11, where shoppers can enjoy special offers and discounts on select LifeWear pieces. This will be followed by the Kanshasai (Thank You) Festival from Nov. 19 to 25. New and existing Uniqlo customers can also look forward to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales on Nov. 26 and Nov. 29, respectively. To cap off the season’s festivities and special sale dates, Uniqlo will be conducting a 12.12 sale on Dec. 12. This Holiday season customers will be given a new and limited-edition design of the Uniqlo paper bag which includes parols (lantern). Uniqlo Philippines is also introducing singer and actress Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli as the new Holiday ambassador. She will join Jose Mari Chan for a new and original Christmas jingle that will be played in Uniqlo stores nationwide. For more updates, visit Uniqlo Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph.

Globe 0917 Lifestyle launches first sustainability line

GLOBE’S 0917 Lifestyle brand collaborates with Revolve, a Philippine-based social enterprise, to create products including T-shirts and totes using recycled polyethylene tetraphyte (RPET) bottles. The 0917 Lifestyle Sustainability Shirt, an especially recycled custom unisex shirt, is made from 60% cotton and 40% RPET, equating to roughly four to six one-liter plastic bottles. The tote bag is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, exactly three one-liter bottles worth. The new sustainability collection is available online at http://0917lifestyle.com/collections/globe-of-good-for-sustainability. To know more about 0917 Lifestyle, visit www.0917Lifestyle.com or check its social media pages. Instagram: @/0917 and Facebook: 0917 Lifestyle.

Yankee Candles on sale

PERFECT Serenity Bliss, Inc., the authorized distributor of Yankee Candles in the Philippines, is holding the PSBI Anniversary Online Sale on its website and online stores. There is an extensive catalog of marked-down Yankee Candle items, from the collection of home fragrances and candle accessories to car scents. The newest candle collection, launched in September, is The Signature Collection. For details on the sale and more, visit www.serenitybliss.com.ph, or follow its social media pages on Facebook www.facebook.com/yankeecandlephilippines and Instagram www.instagram.com/yankeecandlephilippines.

Xiaomi teams up with Swarovski

TECHNOLOGY brand Xiaomi has announced its partnership with Swarovski on a limited edition offering of Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. An iconic Swarovski pendant will be included with selected Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE variants across Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The limited-edition box contains a state-of-the-art Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE paired with Swarovski’s signature swan necklace, embellished with a gradation of blue crystals. Xiaomi introduced a new color for the limited edition — Snowflake White, matte and frosted white similar to freshly fallen snow, matching the elegance of Swarovski. The 8+128GB variant of Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE packaged in a premium gift box that comes with the Swarovski pendant will retail at P18,990 in all participating Xiaomi Authorized Stores from Nov. 5 to 12. For details on the Xiaomi and Swarovski’s limited time offer, follow the official Xiaomi Facebook page.

OPPO gadgets up to 56% off on 11.11

OPPO will be offering discounts of up to 56% on select gadgets during the 11.11 online brand sale on Shopee and Lazada on Nov. 11. Get deals on OPPO smartphones, including A15 (3GB), A15s, A16 (3GB), A54 (6GB), A74 5G, Reno5, Reno5 5G, and select IoT accessories such as Enco Buds, and OPPO Band B1. Starting Nov. 5, shoppers can start collecting store vouchers amounting to P200 for every minimum spend of P9,999 and P400-off for a minimum purchase of P14,999 which can be redeemed on Nov. 11. Shoppers will have a chance to get free wireless G25 Earphones for all mobile phone orders for a limited time on Nov. 11, from midnight to 2 a.m. Additionally, orders made during the sale will be included on the 11.11 OPPO Livestream raffle via Lazada and Shopee. Ten winners from Shopee and Lazada will receive their orders for free, and six winners from Lazada will win Globe LTE-A Home Prepaid WiFi Modem with three months of 100GB of data. For more updates and detailed promotion mechanics about the sale, visit OPPO’s official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via the official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

Scandinavian oral care design arrives in PHL

JORDAN, a Scandinavian brand that has been caring for people’s teeth since 1927 and with world-wide presence in over 50 global markets has now arrived in the Philippines. It brings its range of good quality, easy-to-use, and stylish products to make people’s dental care routine as uncomplicated as possible. Each product is made with carefully selected materials and a purposeful design that has been recognized by international design award-giving bodies such as the Red Dot Design Award and Norwegian Design Council. Its product range for kids, Jordan Steps, offers toothbrushes and toothpastes that are designed with different features that are tailor-made for the child’s age and oral development to help parents establish fun and good dental care habits. For adults, Jordan has a range of products that fit different oral care needs and preferences. Reflecting the Scandinavian and Nordic countries relationship to nature, sustainability is an integral part to Jordan’s product portfolio. The Green Clean toothbrush is made of sustainable and recycled materials — with bio-based nylon bristles, a 100% recycled plastic handle, and packaging made of recycled paper fibers. Jordan Oral Care products are now available in all South Supermarket branches and its official stores on Shopee and Lazada.To know more about Jordan, visit https://www.jordanoralcare.com/.

4-in-1 body lotion includes mosquito repellant

HELLO Glow has introduced Citronella 4-in-1 Body Lotion which contains citronella which irritates and drives away mosquitoes. It is also enriched with Vitamin E which helps protect the skin from damage. It hydrates the skin and serves as a moderately effective natural barrier against the sun. It also contains aloe vera, which has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce pain or swelling. Aloe vera also helps moisturize, soothe, and hydrate the skin. Finally, Hello Glow 4-in-1 is also infused with the cooling effect of peppermint, for that cool, refreshing feeling. Hello Glow Citronella 4-in-1 Body Lotion (P250) available in Watsons, Lazada (lazada.com.ph/shop/hello-glow/), Shopee (shopee.ph/helloglowofficialstore), and in Ever Bilena Direct Sales.

Anytime Fitness PHL launches year-end sale

ANYTIME Fitness Philippines concludes 2021 with a nationwide Year-End Sale. It will be launched on 11.11 and will run until Nov. 25. The campaign offers the lowest rates for both NCR (National Capital Region) and provincial clubs. The sale also activates the online sign-up option for all clubs nationwide, a first for Anytime Fitness PH. New joiners can avail of the sale rates by visiting any Anytime Fitness club or via the online sign-up links in the clubs’ social media pages. For inquiries visit the Anytime Fitness Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessPhilippines, Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/afphilippines_/, and website https://www.anytimefitness.ph/.

Brazil’s coffee crop expected to rebound after experiencing above-average rainfall

REUTERS

BRAZIL’S 2022-23 coffee crop will probably rebound after favorable rains brought relief from drought, according to Ecom Trading, one of the world’s biggest traders of the commodity.

“We are very optimistic about the recovery,” said Jorge Esteve, a vice-president of Ecom’s Brazilian unit in Sao Paulo. “Rains have been very good, above average since September.”

The wold’s biggest producer will collect the high-yielding cycle of the arabica harvest next year. This year’s crop was hurt by dry weather that reduced output to 54.7 million bags from a record above 70 million bags in 2020-21. Brazil’s crop year spans from July through the following June.

Bigger production could replenish depleted stockpiles and clip the rally in prices. Arabica coffee futures surged 62% this year in New York, with tighter supplies in South America compounded by soaring freight costs and a shortage of containers. That’s lifted the cost outlook for companies such that use the beans such as Starbucks Corp. and Nestlé SA.

Yields from farms south Minas Gerais and Alta Mogiana hit hard by frosts in July will still be affected. Other places like Zona da Mata or robusta-growing regions that experienced milder weather should see better crops. Added plantings in places like Bahia and Rondonia should bump robusta production, Esteve said.  

Ecom’s projections tend to be higher than official forecasts in Brazil and are typically more aligned with the US Department of Agriculture. Brazil consumes around 23.6 million bags a year, with exports exceeding 30 million. A bag weighs 60 kilograms.

Like the rest of the world, the nation is dealing with logistical snarls that have held back about 6 million bags from export over the past few months, Esteve said. A trucker-driver strike  this week has delayed shipments to ports, he said. — Bloomberg

Mitsubishi Xpander Black Series boasts elegant, sophisticated look

PHOTO FROM MITSUBISHI MOTORS PHILIPPINES CORP.

MITSUBISHI MOTORS Philippines Corp. (MMPC) unveils a new trim of its popular MPV model. The Xpander Black Series “takes on a more elegant look with new black accessory accents,” said MMPC in a release. The grille, Dynamic Shield garnish, lower bumper, fog light bezel, and door mirrors are rendered in black to project an aggressive look. For the side and back profile, the sill garnish, door handles, panel moldings, rear lower bumper, and 17-inch alloy wheels are also painted black.

The company said that “the Mitsubishi Xpander is a nameplate that is known to have revolutionized the MPV segment.” Rolled out in the Philippines in 2018, the Xpander pioneered a “bold and sporty design that broke the traditional conservative and practical look of multi-purpose vehicles.” The Xpander was the first Mitsubishi Motors vehicle to carry the Dynamic Shield. The model quickly became the leader in its category.

MMPC President and CEO Takeshi Hara said, “The new Xpander black series is developed to rejuvenate excitement towards our number-one-selling MPV. The Xpander remains to be a very important product in our vehicle lineup and we at MMPC are geared to consistently enhance its offerings to cater to the various demands of the market. With the Black Series, the Xpander presents a more sophisticated look.”

Apart from its new style and personality, the Xpander Black Series still boasts a spacious interior that can accommodate seven adults; flexible seating configuration; a dependable and fuel-efficient 1.5-liter MIVEC engine; a range of comfort, convenience, and safety features; and easy ownership experience.

The Xpander Black Series is available in two colors, Quartz White Pearl and Black Jet Mica, and is priced at P1,138,000. For more information, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.ph/cars/xpander/black-series or schedule an appointment with a preferred dealer.

AllDay’s expansion plans lure investors in first week

By Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte, Reporter

NEWLY-LISTED AllDay Marts, Inc. was one of the most actively traded stocks last week, as investors sought a piece of one of the fastest-growing grocery retailers.

Data from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed a total of 4.6 billion AllDay shares worth P3.97 billion were traded from Nov. 3 to 5, making AllDay the fifth most active stock on the market.

Friday saw AllDay’s stock close at 77 centavos apiece compared to its initial public offering (IPO) price of 60 centavos per share.

AllDay made its market debut last Wednesday, hitting the 50% daily trading limit at the beginning of the trading session.

“Investors who haven’t been allocated enough shares during the offer period attempted to buy AllDay shares in the open market instead, which may have played a part in the stock’s strong close during the first day of trading,” Darren Blaine T. Pangan, trader at Timson Securities, Inc., said in a Viber message on Friday.

“Profit taking activity was more pronounced and eventually pulled the stock lower during its second day of trading,” Mr. Pangan said. “[AllDay], however, still closed higher than its IPO price.”

On Nov. 4, AllDay shares hit a high of P1.10. It reached an intraday low of 71 centavos before closing higher than its IPO price by 23.33%, or 14 centavos, to 74 centavos apiece. However, this is lower than its 90 centavos finish on Nov. 3.

Investors were drawn to the stock because of the company’s expansion plans, said Claire T. Alviar, senior research and engagement officer at Philstocks Financial, Inc.

“It is… one of the fast-growing grocery stores in the Philippines with earnings growing by a two-year CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 94.92%,” Ms. Alviar said in a Viber message on Saturday.

“Positive sentiment in the market given the easing of restrictions and reopening of the economy also helped in the first-week performance of [AllDay],” she added.

Metro Manila’s quarantine restrictions have been lowered to Alert Level 2, which will be in effect until Nov. 21.

The Villar-led grocery operator plans to use its IPO proceeds to pay off debt, fund capital expenditures, and expand its store network.

AllDay intends to expand its current 33-store network to 45 by next year and 100 by the end of 2026.

AllDay’s sales surged to P7.93 billion in 2020 from P3.05 billion in 2018, representing a CAGR of 61.4%, according to its final prospectus dated Oct. 12. Its net profit increased at a CAGR of 94.2% during the period, reaching P219.6 million in 2020.

“The management’s confidence that their strong performance over the years can be sustained may have given a boost to the stock’s performance over the past few days,” Timson Securities’ Mr. Pangan said.

First-half profits rose 58.8% to P179.6 million, while sales grew 19.7% to P4.49 billion in the first half of 2021. Philstocks Financial’s Ms. Alviar believes that AllDay’s momentum will continue into the second half of the year.

“This year, we expect [AllDay’s] net income to grow by 79.28% year on year to P393.69 million since we project [AllDay’s] top line in the second half to be 1.5 times higher than the first six months, given the seasonality factors in the last quarter of the year, particularly with the easing of restrictions,” she said.

“We remain bullish but we will monitor its expansion plans, particularly if it will be able to meet its target [store openings] next year.”

Ms. Alviar pegged the stock’s support at 75 centavos and its resistance at 80 to 83 centavos.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pangan placed the support and resistance levels at 74 centavos and P1.10, respectively.

“As the volatility quiets down in the coming days, we’ll have to see if its support at P0.74 holds, otherwise its IPO price at P0.60 may be considered the next support area to watch,” he said.

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