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Filinvest REIT’s Cebu properties attract blue-chip BPOs

FILINVEST REIT Corp. (FILRT) continues to boost its presence in Cebu and attract multinational and blue-chip business process outsourcing (BPO) firms to its office developments.

FILRT, the real estate investment trust of Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), reported that 91% of its tenant mix comprises of BPOs that occupy 240,998 square meters (sq.m.) of gross leasable area (GLA) out of over 300,000 sq.m. consisting of 17 Grade A office buildings in its portfolio.

“The BPO sector remains to be the top demand driver for office space in the country. Thus, we are aggressively expanding our footprint and will continue to build sustainable premium BPO-ready developments in Cebu,” FILRT President and Chief Executive Officer Maricel Brion-Lirio said in a press release on Monday.

At the end of 2021, its Cebu Tower 1, with close to 20,000 sq.m. of office space GLA and 675 sq.m. of retail GLA is 100% occupied by BPOs. The tower is a 13-storey Grade A, PEZA-accredited office building located near Cebu IT Park in Lahug City, Cebu.

FLI has three other office buildings in Cebu that are in various stages of development: Cebu Towers 2, 3 and 4, with Tower 2 currently 73% occupied by top global BPO locators. These may be infused in FILRT’s portfolio in the future once they are accretive to the REIT company.

The company expects the completion of its Cebu Towers 3 and 4 with a combined GLA of 38,718 sq.m. of office space and 5,471 sq.m. of retail space in 2023.

“We are also in talks with some major global BPO players for an early pre-leasing of these buildings,” Ms. Brion-Lirio revealed.

The company reported that in its Filinvest Cyberzone Cebu Towers 1 and 2, around 29,000 new jobs were created. It expects towers 3 and 4 to generate approximately 21,000 new jobs from the office spaces alone.

FILRT also expects economic activity to be spurred by the completion of infrastructure projects such as the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway, which will connect Cebu to Mactan Island, and a bus rapid transit making it accessible to go to and from the city proper.

“We expect that the easing of restrictions for COVID-19, return to work policies, and the untiring support of the provincial government of Cebu will boost the resurgence of the province’s BPO office industry as we have managed to retain 100% occupancy in FILRT-owned Cebu Tower 1 and increased occupancy in FLI’s Cebu Tower 2 while pursuing construction of FLI’s Cebu Tower 3 and 4,” Ms. Brion-Lirio said.

At the stock market on Monday, shares in FILRT ended lower by P0.05 or 0.74% to P6.70 apiece. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

TLDC targets 25% annual sales growth

TORRE LORENZO Development Corp. (TLDC) is targeting to grow sales by 25% annually for the next five years, as it continues to launch new residential and commercial projects.

TLDC Chief Operations Officer Cathy Casares-Ko said the sales momentum has been growing since the latter part of 2021.

“We are really targeting to grow 25% every year for the next 5 years,” she said during the July 21 tour of TLDC’s newly turned over premium university residence Torre Lorenzo Malate.

Despite the pandemic, TLDC saw reservation sales for all of its active properties grew 4.7 times as of July compared to the same period in 2021, and projects 170% growth by year-end.

TLDC President and Chief Executive Officer Tomas P. Lorenzo said the company continues to expand its residential and commercial projects in Manila, Lipa, and Davao.

“We’re doing a residential here, we’re doing a commercial property there. Ideally, we should have 50-50, but it really depends on the areas we’re covering and the market,” he said during the same event.

Torre Lorenzo Malate offers condominium units under Residences at TLM, serviced residences at The Suites, and Lyf at TLM managed by The Ascott Ltd.

“The theme for this building that’s 45 floors high is ‘old Manila mansion’. … It doesn’t feel stark and cold. We tried to make it as homey as possible,” Mr. Lorenzo said.

Aside from Torre Lorenzo Malate, the company turned over and inaugurated 3Torre Lorenzo last year. It also launched a second residential tower at Tierra Lorenzo Lipa in Batangas.

Mr. Lorenzo said the company is on track to complete premium residential development Torre Lorenzo Loyola in Quezon City by 2023.

TLDC is known in Metro Manila for university residences, but in Davao it is known for luxury hotels and resorts, he added. Two residential towers — The Crown Residences and The Crest Residences — will soon to rise at mixed-use development Tierra Davao. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Coming of age story wins GoWATCH Film Lab grant

A STORY about a teenage schoolgirl who develops feelings for a nun at her school has won a film grant at Globe Virtual Hangouts GoWATCH Film Lab.

In 2019, Globe’s film production arm, Globe Studios — now called ANIMA — launched its first Short Film Lab during the .giff Festival of New Cinema. ANIMA is Globe Prepaid’s partner in putting up this year’s GoWATCH Film Lab.

ANIMA has given a new batch of aspiring Filipino filmmakers an opportunity to makhe their dream short films through the Globe Virtual Hangouts GoWATCH Film Lab.

The attendees were encouraged to submit project proposals for short films. From among over 40 submissions, eight were shortlisted. In May, Globe Prepaid and ANIMA offered the eight finalists a chance to attend the Globe Virtual Hangouts GoWATCH Film Lab master classes with directors Jade Castro, JP Habac, Antoinette Jadaone, and Erik Matti. Two filmmakers were mentored by each director for their respective film pitches.

Antoinette Jadaone chose Myra Angeline Soriaso’s A Catholic Schoolgirl and Mark John Manaligod’s Ang Regalo Ko Kay Papa. Erik Matti took on Kent Michael Cadungog’s Hosanna and Tyra Alvarade’s Si Maria’t Si Lucia. Jade Castro picked JT Trinidad’s Sa Ilog na Hindi Nagtatapos and Lester Cristal’s #bagets rider FREE HD, while JP Habac selected John Peter Chua’s Huling Araw ng Reyna and Trishtan Perez’s I Didn’t Want to Say Hello.

For four days in June, the Film Lab students gained valuable knowledge on concepts such as finding stories to tell, protecting directorial vision during micro-budget shoots, mise-en-scene, and decision-making during the post-production stage.

THE WINNING PITCH
During the “The Greenlight Pitch Day” contest on July 15 at the Globe Telecom office in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Ms. Soriaso’s A Catholic Schoolgirl won the Best Pitch.

A Catholic Schoolgirl follows 15-year-old student Kaya who defies the views of her all-girls Catholic school as she confronts her feelings for a school nun.

“Pre-colonial Philippines was matriarchal. Women were leaders and had roles as warriors and healers. It was only after the Spanish colonization that gender bias, gender roles, and sexism became prominent in the Philippine society. After that, women were restricted into their homes, reduced into reproductive systems and bodies that they do not have a say to,” Ms. Soriaso wrote in her director’s statement.

“Our country, now entering another six years of new leadership, have never seen progress into how Catholicism is applied since. While the world cries against the Roe v. Wade case overturn, we are still on the issue of conservative church hypocrisy. And as a young Catholic woman, it terrifies me that this will still be the world that my peers and other younger Catholic girls will grow up to and abide by,” she added.

Directors Mihk Vergara and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, actor Paulo Avelino, and Kroma Entertainment’s Office-in-Charge for ANIMA, Eileen Borromeo served as judges at the program.

“This filmmaker in the film pitch has the strongest, clearest, and bravest voice, and intentions,” Mr. Avelino said of the winning pitch.

The 20-year-old director will receive a three-day film set immersion on one of ANIMA’s film shoots, and a seed grant of P200,000.

It was an unexpected result for Ms. Soriaso.

“I didn’t notice that I was just blurting out what I have been practicing,” she said of her experience for The Greenlight Pitch Day. “This is my first pitch, and it was unexpected for me.”

Ms. Soriaso, a sophomore Communication and Media Studies student from the University of the Philippines Visayas, hopes to submit the short film to various film festivals once it is made. “If given the chance we want to try to pass it to any film festival,” she said.

“Challenges or labs like this provide an opportunity for us to harness that talent. Young filmmakers deserve all the mentoring they can get to compete on a global stage… We want to invest in Filipino creativity because we have so much to say and to share to the world,” Kroma Entertainment’s Office-in-Charge for ANIMA Eileen Borromeo said.

As for future iterations of the Film Lab, Head of Globe Prepaid Givielle Florida said: “There will be a Season 2, not just for our Film Lab but for the rest of our Virtual Hangouts pillar.”

GoWATCH Film Lab is Globe Prepaid’s fifth learning program under its Virtual Hangouts platform. In the past, it conducted the GoESPORTS Game On! Training Camp for ESports streamers and casters; GoHUSTLE Boss Up Bootcamp for entrepreneurs; GoKOREAN K-Fashion Institute for Korean fashion lovers; and the recently concluded musical talent search called GoJAM On Stage. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Unbeaten Wangs eyes semis berth against team La Salle

WANGS Basketball @26-Letran — PBA IMAGES

UNBEATEN Wangs Basketball @26-Letran aims to shore up its drive for an outright semifinal berth while second-running Marinerong Pilipino and Apex Fuel-San Sebastian eye to stay within striking distance against separate foes in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Still unblemished at 3-0, the Knights riding on an 11-day break take on EcoOil-La Salle at 1 p.m. with hopes of boosting their bid for one of the two automatic semis slots.

The mission is the same for the Skippers (3-1) and the Golden Stags (3-1), currently in joint second place, when they collide with AMA Online (0-4) and Centro Escolar U (2-2) at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Letran, the back-to-back NCAA champion, last played more than a week ago after a close 70-64 win over Marinero and could march into duel with a stronger unit with the possible availability of aces Rhenz Abando and Fran Yu.

Mr. Abando played for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup while Mr. Yu nursed a sickness to miss the early goings of Letran’s campaign.

For Marinero and San Sebastian, they will deal with different inspirations to sustain drives for a Top Two finish as the Skippers lost stalwart Jollo Go after his PBA promotion with Blackwater.

The Golden Stags, meanwhile, strung three straight victories to catch up with Marinero at No. 2. — John Bryan Ulanday

Mactan airport passengers surge to over 1.6M; cargo down 34%

PASSENGER volume at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) increased significantly in the first five months of the year, while cargo volume fell amid loosened pandemic restrictions, its regulator said.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority said international passenger volume climbed 190% to 128,618 in the first five months of the year from 44,365 in the same period a year ago, while domestic passengers surged 348% to 1.5 million from 330,476 previously, data on the airport regulator’s website showed.

International cargo volume declined 25% to 6.9 million kilograms (kg) in the January-to-May period of this year from 9.2 million kg in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, domestic cargo volume fell 40% to 7.3 million kg from 12.2 million kg previously.

MCIA private operator GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) said in April that it was expecting better cargo and passenger volumes in the second quarter as a result of the easing of mobility restrictions.

GMCAC, a joint venture of Megawide Construction Corp. and Indian infrastructure company GMR Group, took over the development of the airport’s landside facilities in 2014 under a 25-year public-private partnership concession agreement with the government.

“Pre-pandemic, MCIA provided half of EBITDA (or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and net income to Megawide,” the listed construction company said in a previous statement.

“The recovery of traffic is more related to the easing of travel-related restrictions, and the surge in demand both in country and overseas shows that pent-up demand for travel is driving airline bookings. A higher vaccination rate and a fall in new case numbers are helping to boost consumer demand for travel,” it noted. — Arjay L. Balinbin

More office spaces to be launched in Arca South

Manta Corporate Plaza, a building designed as a modern “bahay na bato,” is expected to add around 24,500 square meters of readily available commercial space in Arca South. — COMPANY HANDOUT

COMMERCIAL real estate activities are expected to increase in Arca South in the next three years as more office buildings are launched, according to real estate consultant Santos Knight Frank.

In a statement, Santos Knight Frank said around 344,000 square meters (sq.m.) of office space are anticipated to be launched this year until 2025 in Arca South.

“As an office location, Arca South appeals to companies in many ways. After the pandemic, companies have increasingly considered the location of their offices vis-à-vis where employees live. Aside from being a low-density area, Arca South’s close proximity to the airport, key thoroughfares, and the residential areas of Taguig and Parañaque makes it an attractive option for occupiers,” Monica Gonzalez, Santos Knight Frank director of occupier strategy and solutions, said.

One of these projects is Manta Corporate Plaza, which is being developed by Manta Equities, Inc.

The 14-storey grade A office building will add 24,562 sq.m. of gross leasable area in the business district.

Manta Corporate Plaza will have 12 floors of office space and two levels of retail spaces, including 5 basement parking floors.

“Ayala Land-developed estates have proven to be catalysts in driving economic development in a given locale. We believe that the corridor along SLEX is prime for re-development to help boost the economic growth of Taguig and the nearby cities. We are very delighted to be among the first to contribute to this endeavor as Ayala Land transforms the former site of the FTI Complex into Arca South,” said Patricia Zamora Riingen, president of Manta Equities.

Manta Equities is the real estate development company behind NAC Tower in Bonifacio Global City.

Manta Corporate Plaza has partnered with Santos Knight Frank for the leasing of its commercial and office spaces.

Nominations for 70th FAMAS awards announced

THE FILIPINO Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) announced the nominees for the 70th FAMAS Awards on July 22 through its official Facebook page.

Katips comes into awards night with 15 nominations including Best Actor (for Vince Tañada and Jerome Ponce) and Actress (Nicole Laurel Asensio) nods, plus Best Director (Vince Tañada) and Best Picture nominations. Also in the running for Best Picture are Kun Maupay Man It Panahon (which got 12 nominations), Big Night (11 nominations), A Hard Day, and Arisaka.

The FAMAS Awards is considered the oldest existing award-giving body in the Philippines and one of the oldest in Asia, having started in 1953. The awards are given by the organization which is composed of writers and movie columnists.

The FAMAS will declare winners in 15 categories this year at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on July 30.

Aside from the regular categories, it will also confer special awards including the FAMAS Natatanging Alagad ng Sining to newly conferred National Artists Nora Aunor and Ricky Lee, a Lifetime Achievement Award to actress Tessie Agana, and will induct into the Hall of Fame Allen Dizon (Actor), and Jess Navarro (Editing).

Below is the complete list of nominees:

Best Picture: Cinematografica, Planc, Quantum Films’ Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Philstagers Films’ Katips; Cignal Entertainment, Octobertrain Films, Quantum Films’ Big Night; Viva Films’ A Hard Day; Ten17P’s Arisaka

Best Director: Vince Tañada for Katips; Law Fajardo for A Hard Day; Jun Lana for Big Night; Carlo Francisco Manatad for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Mikhail Red for Arisaka

Best Actor: Dingdong Dantes for A Hard Day; Christian Bables for Big Night; Vince Tañada for Katips; Jerome Ponce for Katips; Daniel Padilla for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Mon Confiado for Arisaka

Best Actress: Maja Salvador for Arisaka; Charo Santos-Concio for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Nicole Laurel Asensio for Katips; Janine Gutierrez for Dito at Doon; Sharon Cuneta for Revirginized; Rita Daniela for Huling Ulan sa Tag-araw

Best Supporting Actor: John Arcilla for A Hard Day; Mon Confiado for Katips; Johnrey Rivas for Katips; Nico Antonio for Big Night; John Arcilla for Big Night

Best Supporting Actress: Eugene Domingo for Big Night; Janice de Belen for Big Night; Adelle Ibarrientos for Katips; Rans Rifol for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Luz Valdez for My Amanda; Shella Mae Romualdo for Arisaka

Best Screenplay: Vince Tañada for Katips; Jun Lana for Big Night; Carlo Francisco Manatad, Jeremie Dubois, Giancarlo Abrahan for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Melanie Honey Quiño for Nelia; Kristin Parreño Barrameda, Alex Gonzales for Dito at Doon; Angie de Ramos for Dok

Best Production Design: Roland Rubenecia for Katips; Maolen Fadul for Big Night; Whammy Alcazaren for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Eero Yves Francisco for Arisaka

Best Cinematography: Jun Aves for A Hard Day; Manuel Abanto for Katips; Teck Siang Lim for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Carlo Canlas Mendoza for Big Night; Mycko David for Arisaka

Best Editing: Law Fajardo for A Hard Day; Mark Jason Sucgang for Katips; Benjamin Tolentino for Big Night; Joyce Bernal, Renard Torres for My Amanda; Bienvenido Ferrer III for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Best Original Song: “Manhid” and “Sa Gitna ng Dulo” — Katips (Music: Pipo Cifra, Lyrics: Vince Tañada); “Umulan Man o Umaraw” — Huling Ulan sa Tag-araw (Rita Daniela); “Nakikinig Ka Ba Sa Akin” — Dito at Doon (Ben & Ben); “Sa Susunod Na Ikot Ng Mundo” — Nelia (Von de Guzman)

Best Musical Score: Pipo Cifra for Katips; Peter Legaste, Raphael Catap for A Hard Day; Teresa Barrozo for Big Night; Andrew Florentino for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Kettle Mata for My Amanda

Best Visual Effects: Mofac Creative Works, Ogie Tiglao for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Poli Gonzales, Gaspar Mangarin, Walter Monte for A Hard Day; John Laviña, Edgery Mercad, Mark Victor for Arisaka; Santelmo Studio for My Amanda; Outpost Visual Frontier John Joseph Tan for Katips

Best Sound: Albert Michael Idioma, Alex Tomboc, Pietro Marco Javier for A Hard Day; Immanuel Verona for Arisaka and Big Night; Roman Dymny for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon; Outpost Visual Frontier Don Don Mendoza for Katips

Best Short Film: Tukador ni Tatang by Gabby Ramos; See You George! by Mark Moneda; Write Here by Jake Muñoz Consing; Dog-Eaters by Kevin Piamonte; Laro by Fidel Redado — MAPS

T-bills partially awarded at higher rates

BW FILE PHOTO

THE GOVERNMENT partially awarded its offer of Treasury bills (T-bills) at mostly higher rates amid inflation concerns that have caused global central banks to tighten.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) raised P13.75 billion from its auction of T-bills on Monday, lower than the P15-billion program, even with bids reaching P38.84 billion or more than twice the planned amount.

Broken down, the Treasury made a full P5-billion award of 91-day securities as the tenor attracted P20.574 billion in bids. The average rate of the tenor inched down by 5 basis points (bps) to 2.273% from the 2.323% fetched at the previous auction. Accepted rates ranged from 2.22% to 2.295%.

The government also made a full P5-billion award of 182-day securities as tenders reached P12.12 billion. The average rate of the tenor went up by 5.9 bps to 3.142% from the 3.083% fetched at the previous auction. Accepted rates ranged from 3% to 3.2%.

Meanwhile, the BTr borrowed just P3.75 billion from the 364-day debt papers out of the P5-billion program, even with demand for the tenor reaching P6.15 billion. The tenor’s average rate rose by 9.8 bps to 3.356% from 3.258% fetched at the previous auction, with the government accepting offers ranging from 3.25% to 3.5%.

At the secondary market prior to Monday’s auction, the 91-, 182- and 364-day T-bills were quoted at 2.1364%, 2.7365%, and 3.137%, respectively, based on the PHP Bloomberg Valuation Reference Rates published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon told reporters in a Viber message that the BTr partially awarded the one-year T-bill as “awarding beyond 3.5% is [an] excessive cushion against inflation as we saw recent drops in oil prices.”

“Everyone is waiting for President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s State of the Nation message, especially the administration’s priorities and initiatives to curb inflation’s rise,” Ms. De Leon added.

A trader said the auction’s results were in line with market expectations.

“The short-end of the curve continues to be pressured by the global monetary tightening cycle, [which is the] main reason why yields of T-bills have risen significantly compared to those in the belly to the long-end sector of the bond curve,” the trader said.

“The current trend of the GS (government securities) curve is still bear flattening, where yields of those short-end bonds rise faster than those at the far-end and recent results of the T-bill auctions have affirmed that trend,” the trader added.

Central banks around the world have been tightening their monetary policies as supply chain and geopolitical issues have caused inflation to rise.

At home, headline inflation was at a near four-year high of 6.1% in June, exceeding the central bank’s 2-4% target for a third straight month. This brought the first-half average to 4.4%, still below the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) full-year forecast of 5%.

With inflation yet to peak and second-round effects already materializing, the BSP on July 14 raised its benchmark interest rates by an all-time high 75 bps in an off-cycle review and left the door open for further tightening.

BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla said the “significant” hike was due to signs of “sustained and broadening price pressures” as well as spillover effects from aggressive tightening in other countries, such as the United States.

The central bank’s surprise move came ahead of its regular policy meeting scheduled on Aug. 18, and follows two 25-bp rate hikes each in May and June. The Monetary Board has raised benchmark interest rates by a total of 125 bps so far this year.

Mr. Medalla has also said he would not rule out another interest rate increase in the Monetary Board’s August review, although the need for a 50-bp hike at that meeting is “much less now” following their off-cycle move.

Monday’s T-bill auction was the last one for the month. The government raised just P54.81 billion via the short-term debt papers against its P60-billion program for July after a number of partial awards due to rising rates.

On Tuesday, the BTr will auction off P35 billion in reissued benchmark 25-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) with a remaining life of 13 years and four months for its last offer of long-term papers this month.

The government borrows from local and external sources to help fund a budget deficit capped at P1.65 trillion this year, equivalent to 7.6% of gross domestic product. — Diego Gabriel C. Robles

Barredo guardedly optimistic of Philippine stint in 11th ASEAN Paralympic Games in Indonesia

PHILIPPINE Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo — PHILIPPINE STAR/ JUN MENDOZA

PHILIPPINE Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo was guardedly optimistic about the prospects of the national para team, which leaves today on a chartered Philippine Airlines flight for the 11th ASEAN Para Games set July 30 to Aug. 6 in Surakarta, Indonesia.

“I am guardedly optimistic about the chances of our national para athletes due to the circumstances leading to the 11th ASEAN Para Games,” said Mr. Barredo yesterday on the eve of the departure of the PHL contingent composed of 144 athletes, 38 coaches and 40 officials.

“Since the last one held in 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we have missed two editions of the ASEAN Para Games,” noted the PPC president, including the 10th edition that was supposed to be hosted by the Philippines in early 2020 but was shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Due to the restrictions and limitations under the pandemic, the training of our national para athletes has been limited while there has also been a  drought in international exposure and competition as well,” he pointed out.

“The last international competition that majority of our athletes have had was the 2018 Asian Para Games while some were fortunate to compete in the qualifiers and participate in the Tokyo Para Games last year,” added the PPC president.

He was grateful for the bubble training of the national athletes of over a month provided by the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) inside the Philsports Complex in Pasig City as well as its funding of the country’s participation in the regional sportsfest for para athletes.

“Thanks to the PSC, at least our athletes will be more prepared for the battles that await them in Indonesia,” the PPC honcho noted.

“So duplicating our finish in the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia would be a workable target,” said Mr. Barredo, referring to the 20 gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze medals the PHL standard-bearers won to finish fifth overall in the 11-nation meet five years ago.

“Nonetheless, I believe our national para athletes are hungry and eager to perform their best for the country in Indonesia. They all want to make their countrymen proud,” he stressed, citing the wave of outstanding feats of Filipino athletes in recent weeks.

A former football player and avid fan of the sport, Mr. Barredo mentioned the Filipinas, the national women’s football team, in capturing the AFF Women’s Championship trophy for the first time and the bronze medal won by pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena in the world athletic meet in Eugene, Oregon yesterday.

“Inspired by feats of the Filipinas and pole vaulter EJ Obiena, I am certain that our national para athletes are just as keen to share the spotlight in the coming days by bringing home medals and honors for the country in the 11th ASEAN Para Games,” Mr. Barredo said.

Globe group’s Asticom, RUSH tie up for SMEs’ digital transformation

GLOBE Telecom, Inc. announced on Monday that its shared services company Asticom Technology, Inc. and loyalty and e-commerce provider RUSH have partnered to help facilitate the digital transformation of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

“Under the agreement, Asticom Technology, Inc. will provide people solutions that RUSH needs to accelerate business growth,” Globe said in an e-mailed statement.

This will ensure that talent resources are tailor-fit to the business needs of the tech startup’s operations, business development, and marketing teams, it added.

According to Globe, RUSH, the loyalty and e-commerce enabler of its 917Ventures, “empowers brands with the right tools to bring their products online, understand customer behavior, and earn customer loyalty to drive repeat purchases.”

“It is the go-to partner for… businesses in empowering their customers at every stage of the customer journey.”

Asticom has formed various subsidiaries, including Asti Business Services, Inc. (ABSI), Fiber Infrastructure and Network Services, Inc. (FINSI), BRAD Warehouse and Logistics Services, and HCX Technology Partners, Inc.

Created in 2021, ABSI serves as Asticom’s business process solutions arm.

FINSI, which was also created in 2021, offers end-to-end services and industry-specific solutions to telecommunications, tower, infrastructure, and technology, including construction, building, installation, and maintenance services.

BRAD is an end-to-end supply chain technology solutions provider. Its services are tailor-fit for different industries, including e-commerce, food and beverage, health and wellness, and telecommunications.

Meanwhile, HCX is a provider of human resources, customer relationship management, and digital solutions.

The group announced in January that it had reached P2 billion in revenues as of the fourth quarter of 2021. — Arjay L. Balinbin

ACE Hardware introduces more sustainable products

ACE HARDWARE expanded its offering of sustainable home solutions products to address the shift in consumer demand during the pandemic.

“Perhaps, the only major shift for ACE Hardware during the pandemic has been the increased consumer interest in plants so we expanded our gardening range to serve the plantitos and the plantitas out there,” Bernard L. Ong, senior vice-president ACE Hardware Philippines, said in a statement.

Consumer preferences changed during the pandemic, and ACE Hardware was able to adapt by monitoring consumer sentiment through social media and online trends, Mr. Ong said.

“We list customer requests at each branch and collate these monthly. Our merchandising team engages suppliers to respond to emerging trends quickly, then new products are sourced and evaluated for inclusion into our assortment monthly,” he said.

Mr. Ong said Filipino consumers shifted to sustainable products when these are priced reasonably compared to traditional counterparts.

He also cited the popularity of green products, such as LED lights and the lawn and garden range.

The hardware store chain also introduced ACE-branded paints that are lead-free, odorless and non-toxic. It also has a wide range of garden supplies like seeds, tools, hoses, biodegradable pots, and anti-erosion coco-coir mats.

“It’s heartening to note that the pandemic also opened the eyes of many Filipinos to turn to planting despite the limited space in their residence, and help in their own little way to save the planet’s precious oxygen since plants directly reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere,” Mr. Ong said.

ACE Hardware has over 200 branches nationwide, and has three ACE Builders Centers.

After 7 years, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano reaches finale

PHOTO FROM ENT.ABS-CBN.COM

AFTER a seven-year run, ABS-CBN’s series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano is on its last three weeks.

In a video posted by Dreamscape on July 22, the lead actor of the action-drama series Coco Martin (a.k.a. Rodel Pacheco Nacianceno) said: “Ang programang minahal ninyo nang pitong taon ay nalalapit na po ang pagtatapos. Malungkot man na tayo ay maghihiwalay, pero walang hanggang pasasalamat and aming nararandaman. (The program you have loved for seven years is coming to an end. It is sad that we are parting ways, but we feel eternal gratitude).”

FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, which first aired on Sept. 28, 2015, is the Philippines’ longest-running primetime television series. It is based on the 1997 film of the same name starring the late action star Fernando Poe, Jr.

The series premiered and aired on ABS-CBN until 2020 when its broadcast was halted due to the shutting down of the network when Congress turned down the renewal of its franchise. Since then, new episodes have aired on the Kapamilya Channel, simulcast on Cine Mo! and Jeepney TV. It also airs on A2Z and TV5 which received rights to broadcast the series through a partnership with ABS-CBN Corporation. The series is also streamed online via iWantTFC, TFC IPTV and Kapamilya Online Live. — MAPS

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