Nickel Asia unit eyes P1.6-B syndicated loan

July 8, 2021 | 12:03 am

A SUBSIDIARY of mining firm Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) plans to enter into a syndicated loan agreement this month worth up to P1.6 billion to fully fund solar power projects.

NAC released an amended disclosure on Thursday to clarify that the amount of JSI’s intended syndicated loan agreement is “up to P1.6 billion” and not “about P885 million” as disclosed by the listed firm on Wednesday.

NAC said in a stock exchange disclosure on Wednesday that the parties included in the planned syndicated loan are its subsidiary, Jobin-SQM, Inc. (JSI) as borrower, the Manila branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Security Bank Corp. as lenders; Security Bank Corp.–Trust and Asset Management as facility agent and collateral trustee; and SB Capital Investment Corp. as sole issue manager and lead arranger.

Meanwhile, JSI shareholders, namely: NAC, Emerging Power, Inc., and TBEA International Engineering Co. Ltd. will serve as share collateral security grantors and sponsors.

“A portion of the proceeds of the syndicated loan will refinance the existing loan of JSI from NAC which was used by JSI for its solar power plant expansion projects that commenced in 2020,” the disclosure said.

On July 6, NAC’s board of directors approved the company’s obligations in relation to the syndicated loan.

“[It approved] the pledge and delivery for the benefit of the lenders of stock certificates evidencing the shares beneficially owned by NAC in JSI to secure the obligation of JSI as borrower; and the guarantee by NAC of the Debt Service Reserve Account of JSI pursuant to the syndicated loan,” the disclosure said.

“The board of directors further authorized NAC to negotiate, agree and execute the Omnibus Loan and Security Agreement, the Share Collateral Security Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, and any other document required in connection with the syndicated loan on behalf of NAC for the benefit of the lenders,” it added.

Sought for additional comment, NAC Vice-President for Corporate Communications Jose Bayani D. Baylon said the syndicated loan will fund the completion of a 100-megawatt (MW) solar plant project in Subic.

“It is being taken out by JSI, one of NAC’s renewable energy subsidiaries, for which the shareholdings of NAC and its co-investors in JSI will be pledged to secure the loan,” Mr. Baylon said in a mobile phone message.

According to NAC, JSI is a firm that has business interests in solar power generation and currently operates a 32-MW solar power plant in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“In June 2021, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) granted JSI a provisional authority to operate its 30-MW solar power plant expansion, bringing the total operational capacity of its solar power plant to 62 MW,” NAC said in the disclosure.

For the first quarter, NAC posted an attributable net income of P584.1 million, a turnaround from a net loss of P89.34 million in the same period last year, due to higher ore selling prices.

On Wednesday, shares of NAC at the stock exchange dropped 0.36% or two centavos to finish at P5.48 apiece. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Fraud cases make up 70% of ‘dirty money’ transactions

July 8, 2021 | 12:03 am

MONEY GENERATED from fraud or swindling made up 70% of the value involved in suspicious transaction reports from 2018 to 2020, a study by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) showed.

“Dirty money” related to swindling reached P35.816 billion, making up 70% of the total value of selected reports from Jan. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2020 covered in an AMLC study titled “An Assessment of the Philippines’ Exposure to External and Internal Threats Based on Suspicious Transaction Reports for 2018 to 2020.” AMLC’s study analyzed data from 258,087 suspicious transaction reports filed from 2018 to 2020 amounting to P50.574 billion.

Cases that fell under the predicate crime of swindling include an “outlier, amounting to P29 billion, which pertains to a single transaction involving the presentation of fictitious financial documents,” the AMLC said.

Investment scams that fall under violations of Republic Act 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code came next in terms of value at P6.519 billion or 12.89% of the total. This was followed by transactions related to predicate crimes on illegal drugs (P3.493 billion); web-related crimes (P1.69 billion); plunder and corruption (P1.204 billion), and human trafficking (P574 million), among others.

By the number of suspicious transaction reports filed from 2018 to 2020, the five leading predicate crimes were violations of the Securities and Regulation Code (39.19%); swindling (26.68%); violations of the special protection of children (17.99%); web- related crimes (8.97%); and illegal drugs (3.64%).

The AMLC study showed banks were the most commonly tapped financial channel to move dirty money, specifically for big-ticket transactions. Meanwhile, money service businesses and pawnshops that have remittance capabilities were the modes used frequently for smaller value transactions.

The study also found that proceeds from the majority of the high-risk and medium-risk predicate crimes circulated within the local financial system. Meanwhile, illicit funds related to child exploitation and terrorism-related activities mostly came from abroad, with the Philippines being the destination.

Countries found to pose the highest threat for dirty money inflows in terms of transaction frequency include the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the US, Hong Kong and Kenya topped the list in terms of outflows.

Suspicious transaction reports filed by covered institutions have increased in the past eight years and are expected to climb by 26% and 44% in 2021 and 2022, the AMLC earlier said.

The dirty money watchdog also noted a surge in suspicious transaction reports in the last three months of 2020 due to the passage of the controversial Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

In June, the Philippines was added to the Financial Action Task Force’s “gray list” or jurisdictions that will be under increased monitoring for its implementation of tighter anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures. — L.W.T. Noble

Financial Stability Coordination Council institutionalized

July 8, 2021 | 12:02 am

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed an order institutionalizing an interagency body that assesses risks to and discusses appropriate policies to maintain the country’s financial stability.

Executive Order No. 144 signed by Mr. Duterte on July 6 formally institutionalized the Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) as an interagency council.

The FSCC was previously a voluntary body convened quarterly and composed of the officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Finance, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Insurance Commission, and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

The council’s Executive Committee is chaired by the BSP chief and is composed of the top officials of the member agencies. The National Treasurer may also be invited to the meetings of the committee as a special non-voting member.

One senior official from each of the five member agencies shall serve as non-voting members, the EO added.

The council’s executive committee shall meet “periodically…as may be necessary,” the order said. The funding requirements for the operations of the FSCC shall be charged against the budget of the BSP, it added.

The FSCC was first convened on Oct. 4, 2011 and was formalized Jan. 29, 2014 through the signing of a memorandum of agreement.

The council meets to assess possible systemic risks — or disruptions to any part of the financial system that could affect the rest of the economy — and to decide on appropriate policy interventions.

It also formulates a Macroprudential Policy Strategy Framework, which reflects financial authorities’ thinking, institutional arrangements, as well as interventions and tools to be used to maintain the resilience of the financial system against these systemic risks.

The EO said the council can issue directives or policy regulations in the pursuit of its objective of financial stability; align various policies, regulations, supervisory frameworks, programs and initiatives on financial stability; and coordinate with foreign regulators on financial stability and macroprudential policy.

The council can also collaborate with public and private organizations for data collection and research for its policy recommendations, as well as formulate and adopt its own governance and operational guidelines, the order said.

Samsung Electronics flags 53% jump in Q2 profit, tops estimates

July 8, 2021 | 12:02 am

SEOUL — Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. on Wednesday reported a likely 53% jump in second-quarter operating profit, beating market estimates on the back of strong chip prices and demand despite lower smartphone sales.

The preliminary result is up 33% from the first quarter and underscores the soaring demand for chips that has depleted stockpiles amid a pandemic-led consumer appetite for electronics and recovering investment in data centers.

The world’s largest memory chip and smartphone maker said profit for the quarter ended June 30 was likely 12.5 trillion won ($11 billion), well above a Refinitiv SmartEstimate of 11.3 trillion won. If confirmed later this month, it would be the tech giant’s biggest second-quarter profit since 2018.

“Third-quarter profit is expected to be even higher on strong mobile DRAM memory chip prices, and peak seasons for mobile and display businesses,” said Park Sung-soon, analyst at Cape Investment & Securities.

For the second quarter, Samsung’s chip division profit likely jumped by a fifth or more from a year earlier, analysts said, helped by strong memory-chip prices and demand for consumer electronics and from data center customers.

Samsung’s memory chip shipments, especially for DRAM chips widely used in servers, mobile phones and other computing devices, were larger than expected, contributing to chip profits that dwarfed a steep quarter-over-quarter fall in smartphone shipments.

Improved yield in cutting-edge 1z nanometer DRAM chip production using ASML’s extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines also likely lessened costs from the first quarter, analysts said.

Profits at Samsung’s chip contract manufacturing and logic chip design businesses were likely to have improved too as operations at a storm-hit factory in Texas returned to normal, analysts said.

“One of the most anticipated elements in the earnings call later this month is how much the chip contract manufacturing business has progressed in competitiveness, and the current status of foundry customers and orders,” said Lee Won-sik, analyst at Korea Investment & Securities.

“Another is what changes Samsung expects in memory chip profitability, as competitors like Micron are said to be narrowing the technology gap (with Samsung),” Lee added.

Last month, US memory chip rival Micron Technology, Inc. reported a quarterly profit that beat Wall Street estimates, and forecast current-quarter revenue above expectations.

SMARTPHONE SHIPMENTS
Samsung’s smartphone shipments fell to about 59 million in April-June from about 76 million in the first quarter, according to Shinyoung Investment & Securities, as sales of its flagship model launched in the first quarter slowed.

New COVID-19 outbreaks in regions such as India and Vietnam, as well as constrained supply of mobile processor chips, also hurt smartphone shipments in the quarter, analysts said. These conditions are likely to improve in the second half, they added.

A one-off gain for Samsung’s display unit, which analysts said was a compensation from Apple for previously ordering fewer components than agreed upon, was also included in the quarterly profit.

Revenue rose an estimated 19% from the same period a year earlier to 63 trillion won, Samsung said.

Samsung shares fell 1% in morning trade, while the wider market (.KS11) fell 0.7%. Samsung shares have traded nearly flat so far this year versus a 15% rise in the benchmark KOSPI.

Samsung released only limited data in Wednesday’s regulatory filing ahead of the release of detailed earnings figures later this month. — Reuters

The future is farming (and under 30)

July 8, 2021 | 12:02 am

LOUISE MABULO — PHOTO BY JOHNNY VACAR VIA FACEBOOK.COM/THEYOUTHASSEMBLY

UNDERSTANDABLY, the people about to inherit our planet are anxious to do so: there will be a lot to clean up — literally — from our lands, seas, and air. However, a Forbes 30 under 30 is already taking care of what she’s about to get, and we wish her all the luck.

BusinessWorld had met Louise Mabulo a few years ago during a cooking demo in her Camariñes Sur hometown. Since then, she has been a featured honoree for Forbes Asia Under 30, was named a Young Champion of the Earth under the United Nations Environment Program, was awarded Outstanding Farmer of the Year 2018, and became a Friend of Humanity Awardee under the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation.

“Behind all these awards and achievements is a story,” said Ms. Mabulo, during a talk at the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. — One to Tree (RAFI-OTT) Growth Mindset: Youth in Agripreneurship forum on June 30.

She received recognition for her work in her own social entrepreneurship venture, The Cacao Project, which was founded in 2016.

The Cacao Project focuses on fermented and unsweetened cacao tablea (drinking chocolate) which is made from organically grown, sun-dried, roasted, ground, and molded nibs of fermented pure cacao beans from Mindanao. It is currently available from the Cacao Project’s website.

During the talk, she brought out a chocolate bar they had made and cited chocolate’s status as one of the world’s most coveted food items. But this treat is in danger, she said. “In as little as 40 years’ time, the world could run out of chocolate, because of our current unsustainable production practices, and because of the global chocolate deficit of about 100,000 tons.”

Before that happens, The Cacao Project has planted 85,000 trees in about 85 hectares and helped find livelihood for 200 farmers, she said.

“We’re also going on to integrate our intent to create economic regenerative food sources that build food sovereignty in our country and dismantle cultural stigmas surrounding agriculture,” said Ms. Mabulo. In addition to that, she has found out that cacao trees help absorb carbon dioxide emissions, thus helping offset their carbon footprint.

“The fact is, the very people who produce our food and our luxuries and necessities are also some of the most vulnerable groups,” she said, explaining their mission to dismantle cultural stigmas surrounding agriculture. “What we see on the ground at the moment is that our food producers are vulnerable, overworked, underpaid, and not given the recognition or respect that they deserve as pillars for providing the world with essential services that we need.

“What we truly needed was a way to enable our farmers and educate them about the value of their work and their value to the country — and the worth of their harvest,” she continued. “The more we have the ability to support our farmers… the more we’ll be able to have access to better quality food.”

She cites three things that one can do to support farmers, and pave the way to a better future: investing and supporting local industry and produce, and dismantling negative stigmas. But then, there’s finding your niche: in a world filled with problems, apparently, there’s always at least one you can solve. “All of these gaps are opportunities for a system’s change. You’ve just got to be the person who does it and make that niche.”

Strong words for a 30 under 30, but she says, “If young people like me didn’t do something about this, then we would live in a future where decent quality food that we need for a passable quality of life would be a scarcity and a premium.” — J.L. Garcia

AST SpaceMobile seeks to cover 70-M Smart users

July 8, 2021 | 12:02 am

US-BASED firm AST SpaceMobile, Inc. plans to extend cellular broadband connectivity to around 70 million Smart Communications, Inc. subscribers.

The space-based cellular broadband network through a partnership with Smart will extend its services to the Philippines and its surrounding waters, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Our collaboration with Smart to look into opportunities to offer the SpaceMobile service to their customers in rural communities would allow the company to offer affordable broadband cellular access to the unconnected for the first time ever,” AST SpaceMobile Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Abel Avellan said.

The partnership is part of AST SpaceMobile’s agreements covering 1.4 billion mobile subscribers with various network operators.

Smart Communications President and Chief Executive Officer Alfred S. Panlilio said that the satellite communications technology will help Smart expand connectivity in the country.

“We continue to invest in our networks and explore the most relevant innovations that will enable us to continue expanding the reach of our services,” he said.

AST SpaceMobile is the only global broadband cellular network in space to operate directly with standard mobile devices.

Smart is the wireless arm of PLDT, Inc. The company recently said it secured 22,000 permits for fixed and wireless projects since the government fast-tracked approvals last year.

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

RCBC books more home loans as of May, sees soured debt dropping by year’s end

July 8, 2021 | 12:01 am

RIZAL COMMERCIAL Banking Corp. (RCBC) saw its housing loans grow by 4% in the first five months of the year and expects to reduce its stock of bad debt in the sector by yearend amid improving economic conditions.

Ramil M. de Villa, RCBC’s consumer lending group head, said in a press release on Wednesday that the lender’s outstanding home loans increased to P60.1 billion as of May from the P57.9 billion recorded at end-2020.

“The bookings are up 61% year on year,” Mr. De Villa added.

He attributed the increase to looser quarantine restrictions, which led to increased construction works and economic activity.

The government’s ongoing vaccination program also helped boost loan demand as more people were able to return to work.

Around 70% of the bank’s home loans benefited overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), while the remaining 30% went to local borrowers.

Mr. De Villa said the Yuchengco-led lender aims to bring down its nonperforming housing loan ratio to 6-7% this year after this hit 10% in 2020.

“OFWs returned to work abroad because of the vaccination program and easing restrictions here and their respective host countries. So that allowed the bank to start drawing down (from the loans),” Mr. De Villa said.

RCBC said in the statement that it is giving borrowers different payment options for their home loans rather than foreclosing their properties amid the crisis.

The Yuchencgo-led bank is offering the deferment of loan payments of up to six months, a review of amortization schedules, and loan restructuring schemes under its COVID-19 Assistance Recovery Enhancement Program.

Meanwhile, for newly booked housing loans, the bank offers 6-6.5% interest rate to attract more clients.

“Most banks have lowered their lending rates and offered a slew of restructuring and repricing programs for their borrowers. They are also hurdling challenges in the processing of loan applications to better help clients get their documentary approvals,” RCBC said in the statement.

Housing loans currently make up 57.1% of RCBC’s overall consumer loan portfolio, followed by car loans with a 41.5% share (P43.7 billion). The remaining 1.4% (P1.4 billion) were personal loans.

RCBC booked a net income of P1.58 billion in the first quarter, down by 31.55% from P2.308 billion a year ago. The lender’s loan portfolio jumped by 7% to P481.7 billion at end-March.

Shares in RCBC dropped by 1.36% or 30 centavos to close at P21.80 apiece on Wednesday. — BML

‘Safe spaces’ plan gains backing – Concepcion

July 8, 2021 | 12:01 am

MALL and building owners have backed a proposal for “safe spaces” in their establishments, businessman Jose Ma. “Joey” A. Concepcion III said about his bid to create so-called herd immunity in some areas.

Mr. Concepcion, presidential adviser for entrepreneurship, said in a statement that in a meeting, the country’s major mall and building owners supported achieving around 80% fully vaccinated people in their establishments to bring back full operational capacity from 50% at present.

“Safe spaces” is a means to create herd immunity in areas where the private sector has control such as office buildings, factories and malls.

“We would like to propose to the government to allow us to implement safe spaces with an increased workforce capacity as soon as we reach 80% vaccination or herd immunity in our respective buildings,” said Mr. Concepcion, founder of entrepreneurship advocacy Go Negosyo.

He added that creating safe spaces would allow businesses to stop virus transmission, the spread of new variants, and even indirectly provide immunity to the unvaccinated.

“We want to send a clear message that workspaces are ‘safe spaces.’ We are also currently working on a roadmap that will set the milestones for our economic recovery, that’s why we are discussing ideas such as safe spaces, among other ideas, as we would integrate this into our roadmap which will give the picture of how our economy could move as we achieve population protection then herd immunity,” Mr. Concepcion said.

The statement said the meeting was participated in by Filinvest Land, Inc. President and CEO Lourdes Josephine Gotianun Yap; SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy; Ayala Property Management Corp. Chairman Bernard Vincent O. Dy; Alliance Global Group, Inc. CEO Kevin Andrew L. Tan; and Robinsons Land Corp. President and CEO Frederick D. Go.

“We are still under the consultation stage and safe spaces is just one of the ideas being floated around as we expect to achieve population protection by September/October in NCR Plus,” Mr. Concepcion said, referring to the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.

Smart foam material gives robotic hand the ability to self-repair

July 8, 2021 | 12:01 am

SINGAPORE — Singapore researchers have developed a smart foam material that allows robots to sense nearby objects, and repairs itself when damaged, just like human skin.

Artificially innervated foam, or AiFoam, is a highly elastic polymer created by mixing fluoropolymer with a compound that lowers surface tension.

This allows the spongy material to fuse easily into one piece when cut, according to the researchers at the National University of Singapore.

“There are many applications for such a material, especially in robotics and prosthetic devices, where robots need to be a lot more intelligent when working around humans,” explained lead researcher Benjamin Tee.

To replicate the human sense of touch, the researchers infused the material with microscopic metal particles and added tiny electrodes underneath the surface of the foam.

When pressure is applied, the metal particles draw closer within the polymer matrix, changing their electrical properties. These changes can be detected by the electrodes connected to a computer, which then tells the robot what to do, Tee said.

“When I move my finger near the sensor, you can see the sensor is measuring the changes of my electrical field and responds accordingly to my touch,” he said.

This feature enables the robotic hand to detect not only the amount, but also the direction of applied force, potentially making robots more intelligent and interactive.

Tee said AiFoam is the first of its kind to combine both self-healing properties and proximity and pressure sensing. After spending over two years developing it, he and his team hope the material can be put to practical use within five years.

“It can also allow prosthetic users to have more intuitive use of their robotic arms when grabbing objects,” he said. — Reuters

Dining In/Out (07/08/21)

July 8, 2021 | 12:01 am

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Al fresco dining at City of Dreams

THREE City of Dreams Manila restaurants step up to offer al fresco experiences with five-star service. Tucked in their respective spaces, the patios of Nobu Manila, Wave, and Breezes also provide misting fans for the added comfort of diners. Nobu Manila is now open for lunch, serving donburi (Japanese rice bowl meal) specials and Bento lunch meals daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Al fresco dining happens at Nobu Manila’s floating cabanas and patio. Nobu Manila is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for dine-in and take-away. For dinner, a la carte and Nobu’s signature Omakase menus are offered. Meanwhile, two restaurant-cum-bar venues situated at the urban enclave’s scenic pool deck — Wave, which is adjacent to Nobu Manila, and Breezes at Nuwa Manila — also make for pleasant open-air all-day dining. Guests can choose from an array of all-time favorite fare and quick meals in a menu that includes breakfast favorites, salads, savory sandwiches, signature burgers, pizzas, and pasta varieties to complement homemade sauces. Fish and chips, deep-fried calamari, and nachos, are among the traditional light snacks that go with the extensive array of smoothies, juices, cocktails, and spirits. Open daily, Wave and Breezes accept dine-in guests and take-away orders from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The al fresco restaurants seat guests at 50% capacity, in observance of physical distancing. Reservations are encouraged due to limited seating. For inquiries and reservations, call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.

Conti’s opens first cake drive-through concept store

CONTI’S Bakeshop and Restaurant launched its first cake concept drive-through store on June 22, at the Phoenix Gas Station in Anabu, Imus, Cavite.

Jollibee launches Ube Cheese Pie

JOLLIBEE has just launched its Ube Cheese Pie: savory cheese and sweet ube, balanced by a golden, crunchy pie crust. The Jollibee Ube Cheese Pie is now available in Jollibee stores nationwide for P35 (Solo), P100 (3 Pies To-Go), and P199 (6 Pies To-Go). Pies can be safely delivered via the Jollibee Delivery App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000, GrabFood, and foodpanda. They are also available in Take Out and Drive-Through.

Shake Shack opening in Alabang Town Center; offers vaccine treat

SHAKE Shack is opening its new branch in Alabang Town Center (ATC), and customers are invited to take part in some fun activities and giveaways leading up to the opening. From July 4-11, dream up a clever name for one of Shake Shack’s signature frozen custard treats. Made exclusively for Shack ATC, is a vanilla frozen custard blended with Bungalow Café’s Auro chocolate glazed donut, chocolate chunks and caramel coffee sauce. Reply to @shakeshack_ph’s tweet with a creative “Concrete” name entry and get a chance to win a P500 Shack Gift Card. The new branch includes interactive areas such as a community wall, marquee lights, and bike racks. Strike a pose for a chance to win exclusive Shack swag designed by Plus 63 Design Co. (which designed the branch) and headline in your own fashion editorial shoot with Shaira Luna behind the lens. Drop by the location and snap a pic or video of your OOTD by the Shack hoarding. Post it on your feed with a caption saying why you are the “ultimate Shack fan.” Tag @shakeshackph and a friend to qualify. One winner and a friend will be selected at the end of the contest. Entries are accepted from July 12 to Aug. 1. Follow @shakeshackph on Instagram for more details. Meanwhile, Shake Shack is giving away free custard to any guest across the country who chooses to get vaccinated. From July 1 through Aug. 31, they are serving a free single cup of vanilla frozen custard to vaccinated guests for a minimum single receipt of P1,000 purchased in store. To redeem, show a Team Member your vaccine card before ordering in-store at Shacks in Central Square BGC, SM Megamall, and Greenbelt 5. Valid for dine in and takeaway transactions only.

Mimi & Bros. celebrate National Fried Chicken Day

IN CELEBRATION of National Fried Chicken Day on July 6, Mimi & Bros presents a five-day-long offering. Enjoy Buy 1, Take 1 on their flavored wings or pair them with happy hour classics San Miguel Pale Pilsen and Light beers at Buy 1, Get 1 at 50% off. Both promos run from July 5-9, 3 to 6 p.m. The signature Mimi & Bros Chicken Wings come in three variations: Bobby’s Honey Lime Wings, Eddie’s Buffalo Wings, and Mimi’s Truffle Honey Butter Wings. While Mimi & Bros is already accepting dine-in reservations for the promotions, people can still order take-out or delivery and enjoy the promo with the chicken wings. The Buy 1 get 1 at 50% off promo for beer is only available for dine-in customers. Mimi & Bros implements strict health and safety protocols. Al fresco dining is also an option for dine-in customers. Make a table reservation by sending a Viber message at 0945-798-5176.

50% off on 7-Eleven’s signature food products on #711Day

CELEBRATE 7-Eleven’s birthday sale, #711Day, with big discounts from July 7 to 11. On those days, 7-Eleven is slashing 50% off from the original price on over 250 of its signature food items, snacks, liquor, and groceries while other non-food items will also be at 50% off for one day only on July 11. The convenience store giant is also offering a one-day only 50% off special for Crunch Time Carrier (buy 1, take 1 via Foodpanda), 7-Fresh Budget Siopao (from ₱32 to ₱16), and Big Bite Hotdogs (from Php ₱30 to ₱15), on July 11. Customers who visit 7-Eleven stores during the week-long celebration can also enjoy the new flavors mushroom sisig and tuna pimiento from its Fresh Siopao menu and grab a P10 discount on all one-piece Crunch Time Chicken orders. Just in time for the festivities, 7-Eleven is also launching its new coffee brand, City Cafe, with a discount of 56% off on all small coffee cups from July 9 to 11. 7-Eleven is also celebrating a major milestone: opening its 3,000th store nationwide at Meycauayan, Bulacan. Visit https://www.7-eleven.com.ph/whatsnew/7-eleven-day-2021/ for a list of the complete sale items available from July 7 to 11.

Foodpanda celebrates National Fried Chicken Day

FOODPANDA celebrates National Fried Chicken Day this July with Jackson’s Chicken Teriyaki Katsu series, available for a limited time only. Jackson’s is a favorite among foodpanda customers who crave honest-to-goodness, no-frills, crispy fried chicken. This month, Jackson’s American Southern buttermilk fried chicken meets Teriyaki sauce in three dishes: Chicken Teriyaki Katsu Donburi, Chicken Teriyaki Katsu-Sando, and Chicken Teriyaki Katsu Wrap. A special promo code for 50% off on orders from foodpanda for Jackson’s Fried Chicken Teriyaki food trip will be announced soon. Get the latest promo updates at Jackson’s Fried Chicken Facebook and Instagram pages.

Mang Inasal offers Family Size meals

SATISFY your family’s cravings with Mang Inasal’s Family Size meals from its expanded menu offerings and new food products. The inihaw favorites are available for both takeout and delivery. Among the family sized meals are: four pieces of the Chicken Inasal Large Paa (P360), Mang Inasal Sagana sa Sangkap, Pork Sarsarap Palabok Family Size, good for four to five servings (P205); family sizes are also available for the Chicken Inasal Large Paa spicy, Chicken Inasal Large Pecho original and spicy, Chicken Inasal Regular (in six or eight pieces), Pork BBQ, and Pork and Bangus Sisig. Even the newly launched Liempo Inasal comes in family size for P499. Meanwhile, Mang Inasal’s Crunchy, Chunky Chicken Empanada comes in single (P49), three- (at P145), or six-piece (P289) orders. Order via www.manginasaldelivery.com.ph or via GrabFood, foodpanda, and selected food delivery providers in the province. Prices for delivery may vary.

Dining, shopping easier with Smart Lockers

AFTER months of being cooped up at home, people are getting excited to go back to the malls. But since things aren’t 100% back to normal one solution would be to go all out and just spend a whole day at the mall — dine out, shop, do errands, have the pets groomed, get pampered, and cap it off with a few drinks. To make a weekend at the mall more convenient, Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City is now offering the QUBE 24/7 Smart Lockers where visitors can store their shopping bags while they do other stuff. They can be found at the Ground floor of The Magnolia Residences-Tower A, just in front of the mall entrance and The Garden. The QUBE 24/7 Smart Lockers is the Philippines’ first and only fully functional smart locker system which offers 360º services from laundry, parcel, PUDO (pickup-dropoff), storage, bills payments, online shopping, telemedicine and more. It’s already widely used in malls and residence areas in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Word Class Philippine Bartender of the Year 2021 named

DIAGEO recently concluded the Philippine leg of the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year Competition virtually, awarding Poch Ancheta, Bar Manager of Skye, as the Philippine Champion for 2021. Mr. Ancheta will be moving on to represent the country in the Global Finals to be held virtually in London this July against 50 other countries. Now on its 8^th year in the country, World Class Philippines is committed to supporting the industry as it elevates the Philippine cocktail culture and scene. It is the biggest and most prestigious bartending competition in the world, where hopeful bartenders go head-to-head at a local level for the chance to represent the country in the Global Finals. The Global Finalists then compete for the title of Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year. After having had to cancel last year’s competition because lockdowns caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, World Class is back, with the final stretch of the Competition to be held virtually this year. The most unique component in this year’s competition is the presence of Avatar Bartenders, who are skilled bartenders tasked to prepare and present the World Class finalists’ cocktails all in one space for judging. Mr. Ancheta has joined the competition five times, emerging victorious this year as the Philippine Champion, besting 30 other hopefuls over two months with five multi-platform challenges divided into three major rounds. To follow Mr. Ancheta’s journey, check out Project K.O.R.N. at https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1088/hive-collective/project-korn. To get the latest updates on the competition, follow Diageo Reserve World Class Philippines on Instagram at @worldclassphilippines.

M&S Swiss Chocolates for World Chocolate Day

WHILE World Chocolate Day was yesterday, July 7, one can still celebrate something as sweet as this after the fact with a bite or two or three of chocolate like a 125g Swiss chocolate bar from Marks & Spencer (M&S). Choose from premium extra fine Swiss chocolate milk with a touch of hazelnut, or go extra dark with 72% cocoa solids for an intense and rich flavor. Opt for something fruity and nutty with a mix of rich and extra fine Swiss milk chocolate, raisins, chopped hazelnuts and whole almonds. Try something unique with the Swiss Blond Chocolate Bar with its distinct aromas of caramel and shortbread. Care to share? Choose individually wrapped chocolates with the M&S Swiss Extra Fine Dark Chocolate Discs with 72% cocoa solids that comes in a cylindrical package or the M&S Swiss Dark Chocolate Truffles made with extra Swiss chocolate with smooth chocolate centers comes in a box. In the name of World Chocolate Day, why not have it all with a variety of flavors such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate and milk chocolate with hazelnut individually wrapped mini bars in a box? This also makes for a perfect present for any occasion. M&S Swiss chocolates are available in Marks & Spencer stores; order via the M&S Viber Community at bit.ly/MSPH-VC, The Specialist at ssilife.com.ph/blog/thespecialistbyssi and online at bit.ly/MarksandSpencerPh. Get it in a few hours with same-day delivery apps: Pickaroo, Foodpanda, and Metromart.

TWG Tea tea party sale

FOR an ultimate tea time experience, TWG Tea has put together a Tea Table Essentials Guide that has everything needed to enjoy an idyllic afternoon fête for any occasion — and they are on sale at Lazada until July 11. Choose your favorite tea or one of TWG Tea’s best-selling teas, Silver Moon Tea (a blend of green teas accented with a berry and vanilla bouquet), or, for a stronger infusion, TWG Tea’s signature tea blend, 1837 Black Tea (black tea with notes of fruits and flowers), or Eternal Summer Tea that can be enjoyed warm or iced at any time of day. For the tea table, the TWG Tea Design Collection includes the Design Teapot which has a polished warmer with an inner felt lining that envelopes the ceramic teapot and keeps the tea warm for up to an hour. All the teapots come with a specially designed removable filter which allows the leaves to unfurl and develop their fragrance during the infusion. Match the teapot with the Design Sugar Bowl and Design Creamer to complete the tea time experience. To complete the ambiance, there are scented candles like the Macaron Noir Tea Scented Candle (with the fragrance of black tea and sweets), or the Miraculous Mandarin Tea Scented Candle (black tea, rich spices, frankincense and notes of candied sweetness). Shop for these at TWG Tea Boutiques or online at TWG Tea Lazada Flagship Store to enjoy 7.7 LazMall exclusive promotions from July 7 to 11.