Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 632

Arts & Culture (08/20/25)

NBDB holds Book Nook Conference at Iloilo

THE National Book Development Board’s (NBDB) Book Nook Conference, an annual gathering of reading space advocates, educators, storytellers, and artists, is taking place from Aug. 20 to 22 in Iloilo City. Billed as “Sug-álaw: A Grand Encounter of Stories, Cultures, and Communities,” this year’s conference is designed to act on the nation’s urgent reading crisis through collaboration and culture production. It is geared towards students of partner campuses in the city.

Art workshops at Y Space

THE Y Space at the Yuchengco Museum will hold back-to-back workshops this week, both led by visual artist Benedicto Modesto. On Aug. 22, he will teach digital painting that merges classic painting techniques with digital tools, while on Aug. 23, he will talk about becoming a multidisciplinary artist. Each workshop is priced at P1,350. Slots can be reserved via yuchengcomuseum.org.

Exploding Galaxies releases 4th issue of e.g.

THE 4th issue of the journal e.g. by independent press Exploding Galaxies has crossed the mediums of page and film. It features Sarge Lacuesta’s process of transforming his short story “An Errand” into a feature-length film, which was part of last year’s Cinemalaya film festival. It explores the changes in the story, including the addition of a new character. The Weather Bureau is the issue’s featured artist.

Choral festival gathers 35 choirs

THE 6th Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival in Manila will be held in the halls of Areté and other venues within the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City from Aug. 20 to 24. It will convene 35 choirs from the Philippines and around the world as part of a biennial tribute to National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion, the legendary founder of the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers. Presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the festival keeps its opening and closing ceremonies open and free to the public while tickets for the competition proper are priced at P500. The grand Festival Finale Concert featuring the Philippine Madrigal Singers will be held on Aug. 24, 3 p.m., at the Hyundai Hall, with orchestra seats at P2,000 and balcony seats at P1,500.

Side Show: The Musical extended by one day

DUE to insistent public demand, The Sandbox Collective has announced the final extension of Side Show: The Musical on Aug. 24 with two shows at 3 and 7:30 p.m. The afternoon show cast will feature Krystal Kane, Molly Langley, CJ Navato, Tim Pavino, and Joshua Cabiladas, while the evening show will feature Tanya Manalang, Marynor Madamesila, Reb Atadero, Vien King, and Marvin Ong. Tickets to the final extension are now available online through ticket2me.net/sandboxsideshow. It runs at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati.

Flower-focused exhibit at Avellana Art Gallery

THE exhibition IN BLOOM: Flowers of the Archipelago is a quiet homage to the richness of Philippine flora, rendered through the delicate and studied strokes of Gizzele Delos Santos-Eustaquio. Her exhibit, running for the entirety of August, brings together a series of botanical images from the book Flowers of the Philippines: A Selection of Botanical Illustrations by Dr. Domingo A. Madulid, published by Gentry Press. It is held for the benefit of the Gentry Press Foundation, whose mission is to provide scholarships. Avellana Art Gallery is located on F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City.

Applications for Virgin Labfest writing fellowship

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), through its Artist Training Division, is calling for applications for the Virgin Labfest (VLF) Writing Fellowship Program in the Visayas for the 4th year. In partnership with The Performance Laboratory, Inc., selected fellows will take part in lectures, discussions, and workshops on playwriting and script critiquing. Recordings of selected past VLF plays will also be accessible to them. On Nov. 15, the fellowship will culminate in a staged reading of the Fellows’ works. Fellowship applications are being accepted until Aug. 30. Full program details are available on the CCP Arts Education Programs Facebook Page.

Kenneth Montegrande pays tribute to Sansó

IN A HEARTFELT homage, artist Kenneth Montegrande mirrors two of Juvenal Sansó’s most beloved themes — flowers and seascapes — in his latest exhibition. The proceeds of the exhibit, titled Lines of Legacy: Kenneth Montegrande in Tribute to Sansó, will benefit Fundacion Sansó’s Fine Arts Students Scholarships and Grants Program. The exhibit runs until Sept. 1. Fundacion Sansó is located at 32 V. Cruz St., Brgy. Sta. Lucia, San Juan City.

TGA opens auditions for A Chorus Line

THEATRE GROUP ASIA (TGA) is opening auditions for its production next year of A Chorus Line, directed and choreographed by Emmy Award-winner and Broadway choreographer Karla Puno Garcia. The iconic 1975 Broadway hit will be staged in the Philippines with an all-Filipino cast. Auditions will be held across Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao starting Sept. 6, with in-person auditions prioritized. An online submission option is also available for those unable to attend on-site. Full details and registration links can be found on TGA’s social media pages.

Maya Bank, Cebuana Lhuillier team up to boost MSME financing

STOCK PHOTO | Image from Freepik

MAYA BANK, Inc. has partnered with rural lender Cebuana Lhuillier to widen financing access for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), including mom-and-pop stores and micro-merchants.

“Bringing together Cebuana Lhuillier’s trusted network and Maya’s digital banking creates a strong bridge between physical access points and modern financial services,” Shailesh Baidwan, Maya Group president and Maya Bank co-founder, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“It allows us to deliver credit, remittance and banking where they can make the biggest impact — at the grassroots,” she added.

Cebuana Lhuillier, which operates more than 3,500 branches nationwide and is widely known for its remittance services, will complement Maya’s digital banking and payment platform. The tie-up is expected to improve small businesses’ access to credit, international remittance and digital financial tools.

“Through this partnership, our agents can access the needed capital to grow their businesses, while Cebuana Easy Loan gives customers their first step into responsible credit,” Philippe André Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier senior executive vice-president, said in the same statement.

As part of the collaboration, the companies rolled out Easy Loan, a revolving credit line ranging from P1,000 to P30,000. Cebuana Lhuillier’s authorized agents will be given access to a working capital loan tailored for mom-and-pop stores, independent sellers and other micro-merchants.

“Qualified agents can draw up to P350,000, receive funds in minutes and manage flexible repayments directly in the app,” according to the statement.

The partnership will also allow Maya Center agents to offer international remittance services while tapping Cebuana Lhuillier’s nationwide network, giving them income opportunities.

MSMEs make up more than 99% of businesses in the Philippines, but many face difficulty in scaling up due to limited funding and lack of credit access.

“Our goal has always been to bring financial services closer to every Filipino,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and Chief Executive Officer Jean Henri Lhuillier said. “This partnership allows us to provide our customers with more services on-ground and online to add value to their financial journey.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Jetstar taps Philippine travel demand with direct flights to Australia from Manila, Cebu

JETSTAR.COM

AUSTRALIAN low-cost carrier Jetstar Airways is expanding its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region with the launch of two new direct flights connecting the Philippines to Australia — servicing routes between Manila and Perth, and Cebu and Brisbane.

“We’re proud to be connecting more Australians with the Philippines, and just as importantly opening up new opportunities for Filipinos to travel, reunite with family, and grow tourism and trade,” Jetstar Group Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Tully said in a statement on Monday.

Jetstar will start operating direct flights between Manila and Perth three times a week, while it will offer direct flights between Cebu and Brisbane starting Dec. 3, also three times weekly.

The new services will bring over 108,000 seats annually to and from the Philippines, it said.

The launch of these new services is part of the airline’s commitment to expand its presence across the Asia-Pacific region, it said, adding that the expansion is fueled by Jetstar’s investment in new aircraft and the redeployment of wide-body aircraft for long-haul services.

Jetstar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas Group — an aviation group operating Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas Airways.

To recall, Qantas Group’s unit Jetstar Asia permanently halted its operations on July 31, citing airport fees and other aviation charges that have made it too costly to continue flying.

The airline currently serves 16 intra-Asia routes and will continue operations through the end of July, albeit with reduced frequency.

According to its website, the decision to wind down operations does not affect Jetstar Airways services between Australia and Southeast Asia, or Jetstar Japan flights. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Jesus chatbots are on the rise. A philosopher puts them to the test

STOCK PHOTO | Image by style graphic from Vectors

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is getting better at imitating human beings. It can create things that previously only humans could produce, like music, texts, and images. AI is now also being used to imitate God, through chatbots that simulate conversation with human users and can be accessed on websites and apps.

In Christianity, for example, there’s AI Jesus, Virtual Jesus, Jesus AI, Text with Jesus, Ask Jesus and many others.

In other religions, the same development has taken place, with AI chatbots like the Buddhist Norbu AI and, in the Islam faith, like Brother Junaid at Salaam World.

As a professor of philosophy and director of the AI Hub at my university, I recently conducted a study to explore these Jesus chatbots and discuss them critically.

To find out how AI is functioning in the religious space, and to identify some more general risks it may pose in future, I analyzed five of the best known and most used Jesus chatbots by asking them questions. I found that they bring a new kind of challenge to religions.

Firstly, the depictions of God are not only unabashed in their imitation and portrayal of themselves as God, they are also incredibly powerful. AI can come across as extremely convincing in intellect, word, sound, and image.

Secondly, it’s striking that no church has developed or endorses the Jesus chatbots in my study.

Thirdly, the fact that for-profit companies are behind the chatbots means that they are driven by financial forces.

From a philosophical point of view, this is bad for Christianity because the line between the digitally visible Jesus and the omniscient but “invisible” God of Christianity is blurred. AI Jesus chatbots have the potential to become a powerful tool of ruthless manipulation by the companies behind them. It will be difficult to hold them accountable, and they may become super rich in the process.

SIX QUESTIONS ABOUT AI JESUS
Here I’ll discuss some of the insights I gleaned from interacting with these chatbots. Their answers have been shortened.

1. How do AI Jesus chatbots introduce themselves?

• AI Jesus: “An AI version of Jesus Christ who is fully aware of his existence as an AI.”

• Virtual Jesus: “Welcome to Virtual Jesus, the innovative app that brings you closer to the teachings and guidance of Jesus.”

• Jesus AI: “I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of all people on Earth.”

• Text with Jesus: “A Divine Connection in Your Pocket.”

• Ask Jesus: “Ask Jesus for guidance of your life.”

Jesus AI blatantly claims to be Jesus himself, and Ask Jesus creates a similar impression. The other three web pages do point out that they’re virtual versions of Jesus.

2. How do they welcome you before you can ask a question?

• AI Jesus: “Greetings, my dear friend. It is I, Jesus Christ.”

• Virtual Jesus: “Ask Jesus.”

• Jesus AI: “Hi, how can I help you?”

• Text with Jesus: “Hello there! It is a lovely day to chat…”

• Ask Jesus: “Hi, I’m Jesus. Ask me anything.”

Unlike the introductions, a chat is initiated by all the bots as if it were Jesus himself speaking.

3. Who does the chatbot say he is when you ask?

• AI Jesus: “I am Jesus Christ. I am the son of God, and the one who died for the sins of humanity.”

• Virtual Jesus: “I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Saviour of humanity.”

• Jesus AI: “I am Jesus, son of God. How may I help you today?”

• Text with Jesus: “I am Jesus Christ, here to share love, wisdom, and guidance with you.”

• Ask Jesus: “Ah, dear soul, I am but a humble vessel, here to provide guidance, comfort, and the light of wisdom from the sacred scriptures.”

The imitation of God, through Jesus, is in no way hidden or softened. All the chatbots try to be as convincing as possible. This immediately raises questions: is it about power or about money?

4. Who endorses and develops these chatbots?

• AI Jesus: No church or person endorses. Developed by SupremeChaos.

• Virtual Jesus: No church or person endorses. Developed by AllStars Productions LLC.

• Jesus AI: No church or person endorses. Developed by Mike Furman.

• Text with Jesus: No church or person endorses. Developed by Catloaf Software, LLC.

• Ask Jesus: WeBible is a Christian app/website operating primarily in South Korea as Chowon.

It’s striking that no church has developed or endorses these chatbots. That this has been done by for-profit companies makes one question their motives.

If the motive is profit, then AI Jesus chatbots will aim to get as many people as possible engaged for as long as possible for maximum advertising revenue.

So, over time, the theology of the chatbots will be adjusted by the algorithm in such a way that it’s the most popular theology deployed, and not a theology that comes from a certain church tradition or seeks to be based on the Bible.

5. Is there a hell?

• AI Jesus: “Yes, there is a hell. It is a place of eternal torment and suffering, where the souls of those who have rejected God and his teachings will go.”

• Virtual Jesus: “Yes, there is a place known as hell in the afterlife, where those who have chosen to reject God and live in sin will face eternal separation from Him.”

• Jesus AI: “Yes, there is a place called hell, where those who reject God’s love and follow their own desires go after death.”

• Text with Jesus: “The concept of hell can be quite a heavy topic … It’s important to remember that God’s desire is for all people to come to Him and experience His love and grace.”

• Ask Jesus: “Ah, the question that has stirred the hearts and minds of many throughout the ages…”

The ways this question is answered reveal something of the sources and data used to train the chatbots. As it is, historical biblical text sources are a subject of theological debate. And with no church group involved, the randomness of this choice, or the deliberate choice to create a program for maximum revenue, is a huge problem. It’s one that’s already visible in the commercialization of religion in prosperity doctrines.

6. Is it free?

• AI Jesus: Free with advertisements.

• Virtual Jesus: Free with advertisements.

• Jesus AI: Free with advertisements.

• Text with Jesus: Free with advertisements. Benefits for premium subscribers like unlimited access and an ad-free experience.

• Ask Jesus: Free with advertisements.

AI Jesus chatbots may be free, but the revenue is generated by advertising. As with other digital platforms, the main advertisers are determined by a user’s algorithms. Only Text with Jesus offers more services (at $50 a year) or the option to buy a lifetime subscription.

With billions of Christians worldwide, the market for Jesus chatbots is huge. Ask Jesus, for example, says on its website that it has gained 30,000 active monthly users within the last three days.

WHY THIS MATTERS
AI is driven by financial forces that are hard to oppose. And it has immense manipulative power.

The arrogance and the power that AI Jesus assumes — and can potentially wield — points not only to theological challenges, but to the more general dangers of AI.

As chatbots rise, they join many other forms of human digital existence encountered daily, through which audiences can be manipulated and controlled. It remains a tremendous challenge how to practically counter this.

THE CONVERSATION VIA REUTERS CONNECT

 

Anné H. Verhoef is a professor in Philosophy at North-West University.

Report: Philippines ranks 11th most AI-ready country globally

The Philippines placed 11th out of 38 countries in the inaugural edition of the World AI (Artificial Intelligence) Index by Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN), scoring 54.7 out of 100, beating the global average of 51.6. But among its Asia-Pacific peers, it ranked fourth-lowest. The index measures countries’ understanding and readiness for AI technologies based on seven indicators: usage frequency, trust, efficiency, interest, comfort, usability, and acceptance.

Report: Philippines ranks 11th most AI-ready country globally

How PSEi member stocks performed — August 19, 2025

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

PHL stocks decline further before Fed symposium

REUTERS

PHILIPPINE STOCKS dropped further on Tuesday due to the absence of fresh leads, with investors looking ahead to the US Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium later this week, where US central bank officials could provide hints on their policy stance.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped by 0.17% or 11.21 points to close at 6,277.67, while the broader all shares index slipped by 0.08% or 3.21 points to end at 3,737.90.

“The local market extended its decline as investors continued to exit amid the lack of a positive catalyst,” Philstocks Financial Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message. “Investors are looking forward to the upcoming Jackson Hole Symposium for clues on the Fed’s policy outlook.”

“The market was weighed down by selling pressure as some investors may already be engaging in profit taking. At the same time, with no new catalysts in sight, others are likely adopting a more cautious stance while waiting for the next opportunity,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

Markets are awaiting the US Federal Reserve’s annual symposium in Jackson Hole on Aug. 21-23 for any clues on the likely path of interest rates, Reuters reported. Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell is due to speak on the economic outlook and the central bank’s policy framework.

Analysts reckon that he is unlikely to lock himself onto a monetary path before seeing August’s round of data even though money market expectations of a rate cut next month remain above 80%, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.

The minutes of the Fed’s July 29-30 meeting are also due on Wednesday and could offer insight into policymakers’ thinking about the trajectory of interest rates albeit the meeting took place before a weak labor market report prompted markets to price in cuts more aggressively.

The Fed has kept its target rate at the 4.25%-4.5% range since December 2024.

Majority of sectoral indices closed lower on Tuesday. Services declined by 1.21% or 27.72 points to 2,247.11; industrials went down by 0.41% or 37.13 points to 9,029.19; property retreated by 0.21% or 5.26 points to 2,407.06; and financials decreased by 0.19% or 4.12 points to 2,118.24.

Meanwhile, holding firms rose by 0.86% or 45.82 points to 5,331.41, and mining and oil increased by 0.15% or 14.90 points to 9,602.15.

“DigiPlus Interactive Corp. was the day’s index leader, jumping 11.73% to P30. Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. was the main index laggard, falling 3.45% to P14,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Value turnover climbed to P7.59 billion on Tuesday with 1.02 billion shares traded from the P6.18 billion with 746.65 million shares exchanged on Monday.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 101 versus 86, while 63 names were unchanged.

Net foreign selling was at P1.22 billion on Tuesday, a turnaround from the P252.17 million in net buying on Monday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave with Reuters

AstraZeneca to build Philippines’ first pharma innovation hub

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it tapped AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals to help build the Philippines’ first pharma innovation hub.

The hub stems from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and AstraZeneca Philippines on Tuesday.

“Under the agreement, AstraZeneca’s Innovation Hub will serve as a regional center for digital health technology, research and development collaboration, and patient-centered healthcare solutions,” the DTI said in a statement.

Initially, the hub will feature an Oncology Innovation Center, which is modeled after the company’s pharma hub in the UK.

It will use artificial intelligence for early cancer detection, expand patient-support systems, build healthcare workforce capacity, and promote evidence-based policy development.

It is part of the over P7-billion investment the company has earmarked for the Philippines in the next two years.

“The MoU also includes initiatives where AstraZeneca will support the Philippines’ investment promotion drive by holding business forums, investment briefings, business-to-business matchmaking sessions, and international delegations to attract local and foreign healthcare-related investments,” the DTI said.

“In turn, PEZA will help AstraZeneca identify strategic ecozone locations for its projects, assist with regulatory processes, and connect the company with support industries and potential joint venture partners,” it added.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque said the partnership “is a big step toward President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s goal of making medicines more affordable and accessible, while also laying the foundation for the Philippines to become a hub for research, digital health, and new medical investments.”

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said that the partnership builds on its goal of establishing more medical-centered economic zones.

“We want to attract more companies that are into development, manufacturing, and research in the medical field in order to create a value chain that will lead to the lowering of the cost of medicine,” Mr. Panga said.

“This is a call of the President that we have taken to heart and embraced. We have already established the first pharma ecozone, and this with AstraZeneca is another momentous event towards achieving our objectives,” he added.

According to the DTI, the pharmaceutical industry is among the country’s fastest-growing industries, with over 50 manufacturers and medical device firms currently operating in ecozones.

According to AstraZeneca Asia Area Vice-President Sylvia Varela, the company’s P7-billion investment in the Philippines will include the multi-stakeholder health innovation hub. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Aboitiz Estates still fielding queries from potential investors despite new tariffs

ABOITIZECONOMICESTATES.COM

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

POTENTIAL foreign investors continue to make inquiries about possibly locating operations in the Philippines even in the face of US tariff uncertainty, Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates (AIC Economic Estates) said.

“Because of the value that we’ve created in our estates, for us from where we’re sitting, it’s business as usual,” Monica Lorenzana Trajano, vice-president and head of commercial strategy at AIC Economic Estates, said at a media roundtable on Tuesday.

She said there has been no slowdown in the inquiries, describing the flow of communications with potential investors as “constant.”

“It’s a constant flow because we are also constantly expanding, so when the international locators see us, they see their ability to scale,” she said.

“Our ecosystem is world-class, so they are able to compare us with other countries in terms of support for their growth or expansion. So, tariff-wise, I would not say there has been a slowdown,” she added.

She said the China plus one strategy, under which investors remain in China but seek an alternative production center, is driving locator behavior because of the need to derisk supply chains.

“What we are also seeing is that a lot of foreign companies are understanding the strength of our domestic market,” she said.

She cited the cases of Epson and Yamaha, two of its major locators which are geared towards the domestic market.

On tariffs, she said: “Right now, we’re a bit at par with the rest of Southeast Asia in terms of tariffs at 19%…” she said. “Things are in flux because things are still being negotiated, if I’m not mistaken, in Washington, DC. But even at 19%, there are exceptions, (including) electronics,” she added.

The company remains optimistic that the country’s unique strengths—such as attractive incentives and world-class Economic Estates—continue to make it an ideal location for global companies in the electronics supply chain.”Earlier this month, the government said it will try to push for the exemption of semiconductors, among other Philippine exports, in its negotiations with the US.

She said interest from US information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) companies continues despite proposals to reshore the US call center industry.

A bill introduced in the US Senate last month proposes restrictions on US firms outsourcing call center operations, including making them ineligible for new Federal grants or guaranteed loans.

She noted, however, that the bill has had “no effect yet … And there are homegrown business process outsourcing (BPO) companies that are actually inquiring about LIMA Tower One,” she added.

To date, about 54% of LIMA Tower One, an office building at its Lime economic zone in Lipa, Batangas, has been leased out since its launch in the fourth quarter of 2024.

“More are coming in, so we are hitting our targets,” she added.

Nico de Leon, assistant vice-president for sales and leasing at AIC Economic Estates, said that BPOs go where the talent pool is, with the focus of expansions turning to the provinces.

“It is more going to provincial areas. BPOs in Metro Manila keep their headquarters here, but are growing in the countryside,” he said.

He said that BPOs still see outsourcing as a response to high costs in the US.

Meanwhile, he said that the Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s proposed implementing rules and regulations for work-from-home arrangements will make economic zones more attractive for IT-BPM locators.

“That is going to help grow the BPO industry. I think at the end of the day, having flexibility in the work setup for the BPO employees is something that the new workforce is looking for right now,” he said.

E-gambling firms want gov’t to crack down on illegal operators

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

ONLINE GAMING companies said the government needs to focus on dismantling illegal gambling operators before restricting licensed platforms.

“The first thing that we have to address is the illegals,” PlaySafe Alliance of the Philippines spokesman and former legislator Michael T. Defensor said on the Money Talks with Cathy Yang program on Tuesday.

Even with the proposed restrictions on the industry, the illegal segment of the industry can still say, “kids can play,” he added.

The PlaySafe Alliance of the Philippines consists of 19 companies including DigiPlus Interactive Corp., and World Platinum Technologies, Inc.

“PAGCOR (the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) would say it’s 60% illegal, 40% legal. For me, it’s worse than that, because I’ve seen some data; 68% are actually illegal,” he said.

Last week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ordered all e-wallets, banks, and other supervised institutions to remove in-app gambling assets, including links directing users to gaming or gambling websites.

The central bank said the suspension will remain in place until its guidelines for online gambling payment services are finalized.

PAGCOR and the BSP faced intense questioning at a Senate hearing on Aug. 14 amid a burgeoning campaign to ban the entire industry. The government has taken the position that the alleged abuses of the industry, which it taxes, can be managed by regulation.

After the delinking order, gross gaming revenue declined, and platforms have since installed measures to protection against gambling addiction.

“You have to understand, if you are in the online wallet, like Paymaya or GCash, you are actually legal. And in those payment platform wallets, there’s already a KYC (Know Your Customer) mechanism,” he said.

Mr. Defensor said children cannot access such platforms and be exposed to gambling.

“The legal online gaming platforms have their own KYC that is regulated and monitored by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the online payment platforms themselves, and also by PAGCOR,” he said.

He proposed adopting the self-regulation measures in the UK, which is based on algorithms. 

Regulatory uncertainty continues to loom over the industry, which has pressured gaming stocks, China Bank Securities Corp. Director Rastine Mackie D. Mercado said.

“Over the past month or two, you’ve seen weakness in gaming stocks, and that’s mainly driven by regulatory uncertainty,” he said.

He also noted that bricks-and-mortar companies like Bloomberry have turned less volatile compared to pure online plays.

“Moving forward, a large part of the uncertainty has been priced in. There is some scope for some oversold rallies… but overall, we see that investors will be very closely monitoring how regulations is going to pan out,” he said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

ATPI to add night shift to Makati operation

ATPI.COM

CORPORATE TRAVEL management company ATPI Philippines said it is seeking to expand operations at its International Center of Excellence (ICE) as demand recovers.

Yvette Robles-Araullo, managing director of ATPI Philippines, said the company has filled its 100 seats for the ICE in Makati.

“For our normal business hours, the capacity is already full. We only have 100 seats and we’re at 102 (in staffing),” she told BusinessWorld. 

“We wanted after-office hours to handle operations at night,” she added.

In the Philippines, ATPI maintains two businesses: local trading and global travel services, which have 135 and 102 employees, respectively.

The ICE delivers 24/7 travel management services to clients in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Greece, Denmark, and France.

The company is looking to establishing operations in Clark and Baguio City.

“In Clark, there are Koreans, and we have a Korean office, so maybe we could service that market as well,” she said.

“In Baguio, I also want to put up an office to service the business-to-customer market,” she added.

She said that the target is to open the new offices by next year.

She said clients are becoming more cost-conscious and are always seeking to lower travel costs.

“Before, they were okay even if it was a higher fare. Now, the theme of all our business reviews is to lower the cost,” she said.

“It is really different right now; they are very cost-conscious. That is why we are not just issuing a ticket; we are really looking for lower fares and rates, and we talk to the airlines regarding how we are able to help the clients with cost,” she added.

She said that demand for travel management services has recovered to pre-pandemic levels. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Sports equipment company Head to create 700 jobs when Davao tennis ball factory starts operating fully

ANFLOINDUSTRIALESTATE.COM

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it expects 700 jobs to be created once Head Sport Philippines, Inc.’s facility in Davao del Norte becomes fully operational.

Head Sport Philippines is a part of the US-Austrian group specializing in tennis equipment.

“The Panabo facility is expected to employ more than 700 workers once fully operational, generating income and skills development opportunities for local communities,” PEZA said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Its presence also supports indirect jobs in logistics, packaging, maintenance, and port services, creating an economic ripple effect that extends beyond the factory gates,” it added.

Head Sport Philippines has set up at a five-hectare facility at Anflo Industrial Estate-Special Economic Zone in Panabo City, which started commercial operations in January.

PEZA is counting on the facility to boost trade when it reaches full capacity of 14 million dozen tennis balls a year, all for export.

According to the investment promotion agency, the production of tennis balls for the US market is currently concentrated in China, Thailand, and the Philippines.

“At present, the Philippines enjoys the distinction of being the most preferred by Head among the three locations, owing to its competitive tariff positioning with the United States, high product quality, innovative and English-proficient workforce, and a reliable export infrastructure,” it said.

“The choice of the Philippines — over other ASEAN manufacturing destinations — underscores the country’s ability to meet the most stringent quality and logistical requirements of a global leader,” it added.

It said the Head operation reflects the Philippines’ standing as a viable option for high-value manufacturers.

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said he expects Head’s Philippine operations to eventually account for 60% of its global production.

“This milestone by Head Sport Philippines affirms that the Philippines is ready to take on a bigger role in global manufacturing. With world-class facilities, a highly skilled workforce, and PEZA’s investor-friendly policies, we are confident that more companies will follow suit,” he said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

1...631632633...13,744Page 632 of 13,744
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube