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Gov’t makes full award of T-bill offer as yields move sideways

BW FILE PHOTO

THE GOVERNMENT made a full award of the Treasury bills (T-bills) it offered on Monday as rates moved sideways, with investors preferring to park their excess funds in safe-haven assets.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) raised P15 billion as planned via the T-bills it auctioned off on Monday as total tenders reached P46.594 billion, more than three times the initial offer but lower than the P56.36 billion logged in the previous auction.

Broken down, the BTr raised P5 billion as planned from the 91-day debt papers from P11.37 billion in bids. The three-month T-bills fetched an average rate of 1.095%, up by 1 basis point (bp) from the 1.085% seen at last week’s offering.

It also made a full P5-billion award of the 182-day T-bills as the tenor attracted tenders worth P18.36 billion. The six-month paper fetched an average rate of 1.391%, unchanged from last week.

Lastly, the government borrowed the programmed P5 billion through the 364-day debt papers from P16.86 billion in tenders. The one-year securities’ average rate inched up by 0.3 bp to 1.587% from the 1.584% quoted at last week’s offering.

T-bill rates moved sideways and will continue to do so as weekly maturities are now greater than the supply, with the Treasury’s weekly offers of the short-term papers at just P15 billion.

“We suspect that the funds are really intended for this particular investment outlet,” the trader said in a Viber message on Monday.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said in a Viber message to reporters after the auction that T-bill rates have been steady while Treasury bond (T-bond) yields have been rising due to expectations that the US Federal Reserve will soon unwind its accommodative monetary policy stance.

The Fed has said it could start reducing its monthly bond purchases as soon as November and signaled interest rate increases may follow more quickly than expected.

Ms. De Leon added that the market expects the high inflation seen in the past months to be temporary following the slight easing seen in September.

Headline inflation stood at 4.8% in September, slowing from the 4.9% logged in August but faster than the 2.3% print recorded in the same month last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported last week.

September’s headline inflation print hit the lower end of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 4.8%-5.6% forecast range for the month.

Average inflation for the first nine months reached 4.5%, above the central bank’s 2-4% target and 4.4% forecast this year.

On Tuesday, the BTr will offer P35 billion in reissued five-year Treasury bonds with a remaining life of four years and five months.

The BTr is looking to raise P200 billion from the local market this month: P60 billion from weekly offers of T-bills and P140 billion from weekly auctions of T-bonds.

The government wants to borrow P3 trillion from domestic and external sources this year to help fund a budget deficit seen to hit 9.3% of gross domestic product. — Jenina P. Ibañez

NCCA launches values-oriented online cartoon

HENERAL TUNA

The writer behind ZsaZsa Zaturnnah collaborates on a kiddie show of an alien cat who studies a barangay in preparation to invade Earth

WHILE in the middle of lockdown last year, director Avid Liongoren and his production team were deciding on a main character for an online cartoon series on Filipino values. The options were: a young boy who time travels, a robot, and mythical creatures who had to learn what it was like to be Filipino. In the end, they decided on a cat from outer space who lands in the fictional Barangay Hiraya in the Philippines.

The cat is the star of Heneral Tuna, a new short animated series from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and produced by Rocketsheep Studio. The show was developed to showcase Filipino values in a modern and engaging way for a new generation of Filipinos. The animated series of seven episodes will be shown on the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Channel and Kumu.

THE FOCUS ON VALUES
The NCCA, together with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), conducted a two-year study looking into the different values upheld across the country. The research aimed to answer the questions “What is important for Filipinos?” or “What do Filipinos value at present?”

“For us at the NCCA, the values study we conducted and the National Values Program that we are currently developing are grounded on the intent of fostering common good,” explained Marichu Telano, NCCA Deputy Executive Director, during an online press conference on Oct. 8.

“The values study was a platform to listen to people’s input on what they value most. The program, on the other hand, is a process of revisiting, rediscovering, and recapturing those values, which we hope will push for effective and responsive leaders or simply just be productive and concerned members of the society,” she said.

The research identified 20 common shared values. These are the themes presented in the animated series, including family, faith, resilience, care for environment, honesty, love for country, valuing culture and arts, and good governance.

THE ALIEN SOLDIER CAT
Mr. Liongoren said that the cat character was drawn from a YouTube video of a cat who thinks about how miserable he was with humans.

“Dog characters tend to be perpetually happy… Mas masalita ang pusa sa aso (Cats communicate more than dogs). Not that they talk but, in our minds, that’s how they are,” Mr. Liongoren said of cats’ tendency to seem like they are conducting internal monologues.

The cartoon series follows the story of Heneral Tuna, hero of planet Mingming, who was tasked to take over planet Earth. The devious alien cat accidentally crash lands in the Philippines and decides to use the opportunity as a reconnaissance mission to observe the locals in preparation for his planned invasion. In the end, he learns about Filipino values and culture in his adventures in Barangay Hiraya.

“Heneral Tuna a just ticked all the boxes of someone who is entertaining and silly to watch. [It] is fun and ridiculous. At the same time, can teach you something important,” Mr. Liongoren said.

The mini-series is created by Rocketsheep Studio, the company behind the animated films Hayop Ka! (2020) and Saving Sally (2016). Working alongside Mr. Liongoren are comic book artist and illustrator Rob Cham, and scriptwriters Charlene Sawit-Esguerra, Kevin Raymundo, and Carlo Vergara (ZsaZsa Zaturnnah). Manny Angeles, co-producer and writer of Hayop Ka!, is the voice to the titular character.

For scriptwriter Carlo Vergara, the length of the stories was a challenge.

“I guess the main challenge for me was the time for these animations because they’re supposed to be super short. When I started to write the events in the dialogue, I’m a very visual thinker. I imagine what will happen and write it,” Mr. Vergara said.

He added that the character is written with a point of view of a child trying to explore the world, but at the same time, the show is enjoyable for adults too.

Mr. Vergara said that the series includes hints of hugot and comedy. “I cannot avoid incorporating comedy in my stories even if the stories are serious.”

Heneral Tuna premieres on Oct. 15, 7 p.m., at the FDCP Channel and Kumu. —  Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Greenergy secures SEC nod on capital hike to P5 billion

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has cleared Greenergy Holdings, Inc.’s authorized capital stock increase to P5 billion, from P2 billion previously, according to the firm.

In a regulatory filing on Monday, Greenergy said it received from the corporate regulator a certificate of approval dated Sept. 17.

The company said its capital stock now stands at P5 billion, divided into 4.9 billion common shares at P1 apiece, and one billion preferred shares with a par value of 10 centavos per share.

Majority of the firm’s board of directors previously gave the go signal for the capital stock hike two years ago.

In the same disclosure, Greenergy said SEC also gave the green light for the firm to reduce the number of directors to nine with two independent ones, from 11 with two independent directors previously.

The Antonio L. Tiu-led firm previously forged a share purchase deal with ABS-CBN Corp. to acquire the media company’s 51 million shares of stock in financial technology firm U-Pay Digital Technologies, Inc.

The move will allow Greenergy to own 51% of U-Pay’s outstanding capital stock.

In July, the company signed a marketing services deal with telecommunications provider DITO Telecommunity Corp.

Under the arrangement, Greenergy will be providing online and offline lead generation services by commission for the telco’s programs and services.

Greenergy shares at the local bourse were unchanged at P2.24 apiece on Monday. — Angelica Y. Yang

Energy-saving tips for building owners

BW FILE PHOTO

OWNERS of small commercial properties and buildings should adopt practical energy-saving measures to comply with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, according to Lylah Ledonio, executive director of Leechiu Property Consultants.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, which took effect in March, covers establishments that consume least 100,000 kilowatt-hours.

At a recent forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Real Estate Committee, experts shared tips for building owners to be able to comply with the law. These are:

  • Work with the tenants and occupiers to turn off lights and air-conditioning during slow hours;
  • Appoint an energy efficiency and conservation champion within the organization;
  • Focus on components that use up the most energy: lighting and cooling;
  • Consider retrofitting an older building to achieve energy savings for the least cost;
  • Consider a “green-rated” design when constructing a new building;
  • Source renewable energy requirements and more from producers of geothermal, solar and other green sources; and
  • Future proof rental revenues by providing highly energy-efficient surroundings.

— Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Banks tap rediscount window in September

BW FILE PHOTO
LENDERS borrowed from the central bank’s peso rediscount facility in September. — BW FILE PHOTO

LENDERS tapped the central bank’s rediscount facility again in September after leaving it untouched in August amid improved demand for credit.

Rediscount loans reached P6.12 million as of end-September, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a statement on Monday, higher than the P5.52 million seen in the January to August period. Availments in September alone stood at about P600,000.

Meanwhile, the Exporters’ Dollar and Yen Rediscount Facility (EDYRF) remained untouched last month.

The BSP’s rediscount window gives banks access to additional money supply by posting their collectibles from clients as collateral. In turn, banks may use the cash — denominated in peso, dollar or yen — to extend more loans to their corporate or retail clients and service unexpected withdrawals.

Aside from September, banks only tapped the BSP’s rediscount facility this year in June and July.

Last year, rediscount loans dropped 77.7% to P26.9 billion from the 2019 level as banks only borrowed from the BSP window in March, April, August and September, while the EDYRF was left untouched.

The marginal increase in rediscount loans reflects the improved but still tepid demand for credit amid the crisis, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

“Loan demand may be picking up in recent months but remained relatively subdued as the pandemic reduced demand conditions in the economy,” Mr. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

Bank lending recovered in August to register its first annual growth after eight straight months of decline, backed by a rise in production loans and reflecting the transmission of the regulator’s rate cuts in 2020.

Outstanding loans issued by big banks grew by 1.3% year on year to P9.487 trillion in August, based on preliminary data released by the BSP. This is a turnaround from the 0.7% decline in July.

Mr. Ricafort said banks have less need to tap BSP’s rediscount facility as there is still excess liquidity in the financial system.

The central bank has released some P2.2 trillion in liquidity into the financial system through various easing measures. This is equivalent to about 12.1% of gross domestic product.

For this month, the BSP said applicable rates for peso rediscount loans will be at 2.5%, regardless of maturity.

Meanwhile, rates for the dollar and yen-denominated rediscount borrowings, regardless of maturity, are set at 2.13013% and 1.92083%, respectively. — L.W.T. Noble

No Time to Die debuts slightly behind expectations with $56 M

DANIEL CRAIG in No Time to Die (2021) — IMDB.COM

LOS ANGELES —  No Time to Die, the latest installment in the James Bond franchise, debuted with $56 million at the North American box office, a result that fell somewhat short of expectations and signals that even one of the most storied brands in film history is still being forced to contend with a moviegoing landscape that has been dramatically altered by the pandemic.

Heading into the weekend, No Time to Die was projected to make $60 million to $70 million in its first three days of release. Though not a disaster, the film’s final weekend total was expected to be higher because it received positive reviews and represented Daniel Craig’s final outing as the stylish secret agent.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, assessing initial box office results for No Time to Die isn’t as clear cut. For some movies, especially during a public health crisis, an opening weekend of $56 million would be cause for great jubilation. But No Time to Die is no ordinary film. It carries a massive $250 million production budget, to say nothing of the more than $100 million marketing spend. Add in the tens of millions it cost to delay No Time to Die, which was supposed to premiere in April of 2020 before the pandemic altered those plans, and box office experts estimate that, conservatively, No Time to Die needs to gross at least $800 million at the global box office to make money in its theatrical window. For Bond, the franchise has numerous marketing partners and ancillary tie-ins, with Rolex, Aston Martin and more, that could help cushion potential losses.

Overseas, audiences have been turning out for No Time to Die at the international box office, where it has already made an impressive $145 million. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective), the 007 adventure has opened in most major markets except for China (set for Oct. 29), which is a popular territory for all things Bond. Globally, the film has collected $313 million.

At the domestic box office, the slightly muted results for No Time to Die are attributable to several factors, including hesitation among older audiences to return to the movies and its lengthy two-hour-and-45-minute runtime, which limited the number of screenings per day. It’s also the first Hollywood tentpole with real competition at the box office. Sony’s comic book sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage opened last weekend and has continued to pull in crowds, which may have cannibalized ticket sales for Bond.

With No Time to Die claiming the No. 1 spot on domestic box office charts, the Venom follow-up slid to second place with $32 million, a figure that’s more than many pandemic-era releases have made in their entire theatrical run. In total, Venom: Let There Be Carnage has generated a mighty $141 million in North America and $185 million worldwide.

Since Bond is a property that tends to skewed toward older audiences, a demographic that doesn’t always make an effort to watch a film on its opening weekend, box office analysts have been encouraged by No Time to Die. According to United Artists Releasing, the company distributing the film in the US, 25% of ticket buyers returned to theaters for the first time in more than 18 months for Bond.

In a distant third place on domestic charts, The Addams Family 2 generated $10 million, bringing its North American total to $31.1 million. The animated family comedy, from MGM and United Artists Releasing, is being offered simultaneously on premium video-on-demand platforms.

Disney’s superhero adventure Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings landed at No. 4 with $4.2 million in its sixth weekend in theaters. Globally, the Marvel comic book adaptation has surpassed $400 million worldwide, making it the sixth-highest grossing film of the year. With $212 million in North America, it remains the highest earning movie of 2021 at the domestic box office.

The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to The Sopranos, rounded out the top five with a paltry $1.4 million in its sophomore outing. That puts ticket sales for the Warner Bros. movie, which premiered day-and-date on HBO Max, at a dismal $7.4 million. It cost $50 million to make. — Reuters

Megawide sets 5.3% dividend rate for preferred shares offering

MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. on Monday set the dividend rate for its follow-on offering of Series 4 preferred shares to 5.3%.

The listed infrastructure and engineering company has just received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) for its P4-billion offering.

Megawide aims to conduct the offer from Oct. 13 to 19, with the listing tentatively set to Oct. 29. Shares will be listed under ticker symbol “MWP4.”

The offer consists of 30 million preferred shares at P100 apiece, with an overallotment option of 10 million preferred shares. The company said the shares will be subject to a dividend step-up rate unless it redeems the shares three and a half years from its listing date.

Proceeds from the offer will be used to redeem its Series 1 preferred shares by December to avoid the step-up rate. Megawide said the Series 1 preferred shares come with a 7.025% coupon rate per annum, with a call option on its seventh anniversary, and a maximum step-up rate of 487.5 basis points if the call option was not used.

“Part of our financial game plan is to streamline our balance sheet to support our expansion programs, especially our pivot to infrastructure,” Megawide Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edgar B. Saavedra said in a statement on Monday.

The follow-on offering will allow the company to maintain a “comfortable” debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio and be able to accommodate capital-raising plans in the future.

As of end-June, the company logged an improvement on its D/E ratio at the parent level with 1.1x versus 1.15x at the end of last year and versus the 2.33x covenant agreed with lenders.

“With a manageable D/E ratio, we will have more flexibility to raise funds to pursue more projects in the infrastructure space, which we think will be critical in jumpstarting the economy,” said Mr. Saavedra.

Megawide has submitted bids for the Metro Manila Subway Project and for the North-South Commuter Rail Southline. It also intends to participate in the electro-mechanical and track works for majority of the Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP) alignment.

The company is also part of the consortium undergoing civil works for MCRP’s Package 1 with Hyundai Engineering and Dong Ah Construction Corp.

Megawide said the successful offering will allow it to replace the original preferred shares with a lower dividend rate.

“We have been embarking on a long-term financial management program to achieve a more balanced and efficient capital structure moving forward, taking advantage of the current accommodative benchmark rates to realize savings while also stretching our maturity towers as we continue to navigate through this pandemic,” said Ramon H. Diaz, Megawide’s group chief financial officer.

On Monday, shares of Megawide at the stock exchange rose by 4.3% or 27 centavos to finish at P6.55 apiece. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

VaxCertPH booth opens in Robinsons Malls

ROBINSONS MALLS are now hosting VaxCertPH booths, where overseas Filipino workers and Filipinos going abroad can secure their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination certificates.

The VaxCertPH booths are now open in Robinsons Place Imus, Cavite and in Forum Robinsons in Mandaluyong. The booths are located at the malls’ third level.

Robinsons Malls teamed up with the departments of Health, Interior and Local Government, and Information and Communications Technology to implement the VaxCertPH program.

The VaxCertPH platform serves as the country’s unified vaccine certificate system. The VaxCertPH is accepted in all countries.

Money service firms exempt from digitization requirement

MONEY SERVICE businesses that do not require their clients to open and maintain accounts with them will not be required to digitize their customer records, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said.

“It is hereby clarified that the guidelines on Digitization of Customer Records (DIGICUR) shall apply only to covered persons whose business involves customers who are able to open, keep, and maintain accounts, e-wallets, or other similar electronic products or services with them,” the AMLC said in an advisory on Monday.

Money service businesses include those engaging in remittances, cash transfers, and foreign exchange dealership.

“The DIGICUR does not apply to money service businesses as they generally do not maintain accounts or electronic wallets for their customers, thereby rendering inexistent the danger sought to be prevented by the DIGICUR, i.e., the immediate movement of funds from accounts subject of an investigation,” it said.

However, it said a money service business will need to comply with the DIGICUR if their business model includes these activities.

The AMLC said the DIGICUR is meant to keep the confidentiality of its investigations by preventing relaying information to customers that are under scrutiny.

It said the guidelines are also meant to hasten the retrieval of customer records of covered persons for prompt financial analysis, investigations, and legal actions by the AMLC.

Earlier this month, the AMLC extended the deadline for covered persons’ full compliance with the DIGICUR to September 2022. The deadline has been extended twice from the original April 2019.

AMLC Executive Director Mel Georgie B. Racela said they have heeded the call of various industry groups that requested for an extension due to their limited operations during the pandemic.

In the meantime, covered persons are expected to submit a quarterly report that will detail their progress in their digitizing customer records.

“While the extension [of the deadline] impairs the promptness of AMLC’s investigation, we cannot also be insensitive to the difficulties that this pandemic has brought to the operations of relevant covered persons, including banks,” Mr. Racela said in a Viber message. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Napocor launches carbon sequestration initiative

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE National Power Corp. (Napocor) has launched its “Energy Carbon Sequestration Initiative,” which encourages entities to help improve the nine watersheds it manages through reforestation activities.

In a briefing on Monday, Napocor Manager for Watershed Management Emmanuel A. Umali said the program promotes reforestation efforts across the watersheds, and can help firms with their carbon offsetting targets.

Areas covered under the carbon sequestration initiative are: the Upper Agno River watershed in Benguet and Ifugao; San Roque watershed in Pangasinan; Angat watershed in Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan and Rizal provinces; Caliraya Lumot watershed in Laguna; Makiling Banahaw watershed in Batangas, Laguna and Quezon provinces; Buhi-Barit watershed in Camarines Sur; Tiwi watershed in Camarines Sur and Albay; Agus River watershed in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte; and Pulangi watershed in Bukidnon. 

“We have about 56,000 hectares to be allocated to our partners,” Mr. Umali said.

He also encouraged members of the energy sector to join the new program.

At present, Napocor’s protection and reforestation projects are supported by the universal charge-environmental fund which stands at P0.0025 per kilowatt-hour. The charge is collected from electricity users every month.

“If we just rely on the funds coming from the universal charge, it will take us about maybe a thousand years before we can cover the entire 56,000 hectares,” Mr. Umali said.

Interested participants who wish to join the carbon sequestration initiative must be able to spend around P62,660 per hectare over the next three years, according to a sample costing provided by the government entity. More than half of the cost will go to maintenance and protection activities of the tree seedlings.

In July, the Department of Energy encouraged independent power producers to join Napocor’s carbon sequestration program through an advisory. — Angelica Y. Yang

Entertainment News (10/12/21)

CCP Arthouse Cinema marks Indigenous Month with free screenings

THE CCP Arthouse Cinema, a program by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Film, Broadcast and New Media Division, celebrates the Indigenous Peoples Month this October with free screenings of documentaries that uphold and demand the active inclusion, preservation, and respect for the Indigenous Peoples’ traditions, cultures, and rights. Featured films are Walai by director Adjani Arumpac and Kambalingan by director Terence Giourdan Gonzalves. The films are being screened for free until Oct. 15, at the CCP Vimeo Channel. The 60-minute Walai prods on the memories of four Muslim women who once lived in the infamous White House in Cotabato City. Meanwhile, Kambalingan is a short visual documentary on Marawi’s beauty before its destruction during the Marawi Siege, told through the recollections of Maranao refugees. To watch the films, go to vimeo.com/showcase/ccparthousecinema.

Essilor marks World Sight Day with concert

ESSILOR celebrates better vision with World Sight Day and their mission to help everyone in the world to “see more, be more and live life to its fullest” with a series of events. It will kick-off with the EssiLove Night, a digital concert featuring Ben&Ben to raise awareness about poor vision and the need for regular eye exam. The online concert treat will be aired live on Essilor’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/EssilorPhilippines) on Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Essilor also developed a Facebook profile banner that users can post along with their profile picture to raise awareness on better eye health. Viewers can get the chance to win giveaways from Essilor when they share a selfie while watching the EssiLove Night and post it using the hashtags #WorldSightDay and #EssilorwithBen&Ben or they can also opt to join the digital quiz, answering questions alongside the Ben&Ben performance. Essilor has also extended its Multi Pair promo where customers who buy one pair of prescription eyeglasses can purchase a second pair for 50% off until Dec. 31. They can visit and book an appointment online at partner optical shops at Essilor website www.essilor.com.ph.

Tale of the Nine Tailed on GMA Telebabad

SOUTH KOREAN drama series Tale of the Nine Tailed will begin airing on GMA Telebabad on Oct. 11, 9:35 p.m. The drama quickly gained a following in South Korea after its premiere in 2020, with its cast and plot which interweaves romance with Korean folk tales and horror elements. The series stars Lee Dong-wook, Jo Bo-ah, and Kim Bum, and follows a nine-tailed fox Leon, a mountain guardian spirit, who, after losing his mortal first love, gives up his position and spends centuries in human form in search of her reincarnation.

Netflix and Chills: Halloween Slate

NETFLIX is bringing equal parts chills and thrills this Halloween season with a slate of creepy movies for both adults and kids, and scary TV series throughout October.  Among the adult films that are now available are Nightbooks, about a boy and girls who are imprisoned by an evil witch in her contemporary New York City apartment; Intrusion, about the dangerous aftermath of a deadly break-in at a couple’s new dream home; No One Gets Out Alive, an immigrant’s nightmare starts when she takes a room in a boarding house; Escape The Undertaker, an interactive film featuring WWE Superstars where The Undertaker has set a trap for the decorated tag team The New Day at his haunted mansion; and, There’s Someone Inside Your House, where classmates are stalked by a killer intent on exposing their darkest secrets to the entire town. Available starting Oct. 13 is Fever Dream (Distancia de Rescate), a haunting story of broken souls, an invisible threat, and the power and desperation of family, based on the novel by Samanta Schweblin; on Oct. 15, The Trip (I onde dager), where a couple with murderous plans for each other head to a remote cabin, only to find themselves facing an even bigger threat. Available on Oct. 20 is Night Teeth, about two mysterious women out for a night of bloody party-hopping across LA; and on Oct. 27, Hypnotic, about a woman whose sessions under hypnosis have deadly consequences, and Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight Part 2, a continuation of the Polish slasher film, a perverse, ironic, grotesque and bloody story about looking for love and discovering one’s own self. For the kids there are: Scaredy Cats (now available), where a 12-year-old and her friends turn into cats to escape witches; A Tale Dark & Grimm (available Oct. 8), a take on Hansel and Gretel; and, Sharkdog’s Fintastic Halloween (available Oct. 15), in which Sharkdog must save trick-or-treating from a slimy sea monster. For those who want the scares to last longer than an hour or two, there are TV series like season 2 of Into the Night, the final season of Lucifer, the bloody K-thriller Squid Game, the miracles of Midnight Mass, and the murder mystery The Chestnut Man, all of which are currently available. Meanwhile, season 3 of You kicks off on Oct. 15, while season 2 of Locke & Key starts on Oct. 22.

PHL stars in AXN Asia’s My Hometown is G.O.A.T.

MANY travel plans have been put on hold, but audiences might be able to satisfy their wanderlust through AXN Asia’s newest original production. My Hometown is G.O.A.T. Made in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DoT), the upcoming series will take viewers on a journey across the Philippines as it follows local celebrities who are on a mission to show exactly why each of their hometowns is the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.). The six-episode travel and lifestyle reality series will premiere regionally in Southeast Asia on Nov.  4, with episodes coming out on AXN Asia every Thursday and Friday at 8:30 p.m., and on the AXN Asia YouTube channel every following Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The show will also be broadcast on AXN Taiwan and AXN Korea starting Nov. 8 and Nov. 13 respectively. In the show, three sets of celebrity adventurers, Miss World 2013 Megan Young along with her husband Mikael Daez, Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados, and basketball superstar Marc Pingris along with his Philippine Bikers Amazing “PBA” Moto Club crew JC Intal, Jayjay Helterbrand, and Rico Maierhofer, will share the reasons why each of their hometowns deserves to be added into the bucket list of any kind of traveler. They will also show audiences how to be safe and savvy when traveling in the Philippines in the new normal.

BLASTER joins Island Records PH, releases single

NEWCOMER BLASTER recently joined the roster of Island Records Philippines, a domestic label division under UMG Philippines. On the heels of the official signing, BLASTER (the lead guitarist and occasional vocalist of award-winning band IV of Spades) is releasing “Disko Forever” (Japanese version),” a retro-modern bop that blends the Manila Sound with bedroom electronica and avant-pop influences. Sung completely in Japanese, the new iteration serves as a warm-up track to the Tagalog version, which the young Filipino artist will be releasing soon. BLASTER’s “Disko Forever” is out now on all streaming platforms worldwide via Island Records Philippines and MCA Music, Inc.

Ultra Records marks 25th year with remix

MANCHESTER, UK-based duo Solardo (James Eliot and Mark Richards, aka MRK1) have been tapped by Ultra Records for their studio prowess to remix the track that started it all for the legendary label as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. Released on Oct. 1 was Roger Sanchez’ “Release Yo’Self (Solardo Remix).” MK, David Guetta, Black Coffee, Nicole Moudaber and Carl Cox are just a few talents whose productions received early remixes from the duo. Solardo’s success didn’t go unnoticed and they signed to Ultra Music going on to release hits like “Be Somebody” (2018), “Move Your Body” (2019), “My Life” (2020), and arguably their most successful release to date, “XTC.” For a quarter of a century, Ultra Music has become one of the most respected electronic and dance music brands on the international scene. This year, Ultra Music celebrates its 25th anniversary with a commemorative remix package set for release Oct. 29 of which Solardo’s “Release Yo’Self” remix will be featured.

Zack Tabudlo’s releases new single   

RELEASED ahead of his debut album Episode, Zack Tabudlo’s new single, “Ba’t Ganto Ang Pag-ibig,” captures the conflicting emotions of love with earnest sentimentality. “You don’t know if you stand a chance [against] everyone else, but you genuinely just want the person to be happy,” Mr. Tabudlo said in a statement. “You will always be the one call away for that person no matter what.” “Ba’t Ganto Ang Pag-ibig” is out now on all streaming platforms (https://ZackTabudlo.lnk.to/BatGantoAngPagibig).

Timmy Albert releases new single

WHILE reminiscing about a bad break up, singer Timmy Albert wrote “TOTGA” which stands for “The One That Got Away.” The song describes the appreciation of the time and memories created between two lovers despite an abrupt ending. After almost a year following the release of his DISTANCED EP, Mr. Albert is back with “TOTGA.” “I’m really excited about what’s to come with Universal Records. I worked hard to get to this position and I’m ready to keep making music with all these talented people in the label,” Mr. Albert said in a statement. “TOTGA” is now streaming on iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube, and Spotify.

R&B artist Chlöe releases new single

AFTER gaining attention as part of a pop duo with her with sister Halle, R&B artist Chlöe proves that she’s ready to shine on her own with the release of her new single, “Have Mercy.” The song is the Grammy-nominated producer and singer-songwriter’s debut as a solo artist. Produced by Murda Beatz, Chlöe, Joseph L’étranger, FnZ, and BoogzDaBeast, the single debuted at No. 28 on US Billboard Hot 100. “Have Mercy” is available on all digital music platforms worldwide via Parkwood/Columbia/Sony Music.

Willis Towers Watson renews lease at W CityCenter

GLOBAL ADVISORY and brokerage firm Willis Towers Watson recently renewed the lease with W CityCenter in Bonifacio Global City.

Willis Towers Watson moved its main operations to W CityCenter when it expanded operations in the Philippines. The company now has over 1,400 employees for its business process outsourcing, brokering, and consultancy operations. 

“The pandemic has only furthered our efforts to maintain the safety and security of our tenants across all fronts. As we continue to strengthen our partnership with our clients, like Willis Towers Watson, we hope to also provide opportunities for growth and allow them to sustain operations efficiently in our properties,” W Group Chief Executive Officer Francis Wee said.

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