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Polkadot launches ‘Byaheng Pilipinas’ hackathon series with P580K prize pool

Blockchain network Polkadot unveiled over P580,000, or approximately $10,000, worth of prizes to be given to participants in their new ‘Byaheng Pilipinas’ bootcamp and hackathon series.

The program combines a six-week boot camp with a four-week hackathon, providing participants with hands-on training in blockchain development and smart contract creation using Polkadot’s software development kit — Substrate. Participants will also gain access to expert-led workshops, industry insights, and mentorship to prepare them for tackling real-world challenges.

“Supporting Filipino developers and blockchain enthusiasts is essential for Polkadot because of the Philippines’ rapidly growing tech community and its increasing influence in Web3. Filipinos’ creativity and collaboration can help drive Web3 adoption in Southeast Asia and foster a more inclusive and diverse blockchain ecosystem,” said Patricia Arro, co-contributor for Polkadot SEA and OpenGuild.

In partnership with OpenGuild and Web3 Bulacan, participants will have the chance to design and prototype solutions addressing critical local challenges, such as decentralized identity (DID), financial inclusion, and remittances.

Participants will also explore Polkadot’s advanced technology, including its modular architecture, decentralized liquidity models, and smart contract capabilities, equipping them with the tools to create scalable, interoperable, and impactful blockchain solutions.

The program will culminate in a high-stakes Grand Demo Day in Manila, where top teams will showcase their projects. Teams from across the country will be sponsored to travel to Manila for the finale.

“Beyond technical skill-building, Byaheng Pilipinas fosters community engagement by connecting participants with like-minded developers, thought leaders, and industry pioneers. This collaborative environment is designed to spark fresh ideas and build a supportive network for Filipino innovators,” Ms. Arro said.

The program is also part of OpenGuild’s 2025 vision to establish a Polkadot hub, or “Plaza,” as a catalyst for blockchain adoption in the region. This initiative reflects their commitment to bringing more impactful Web3 projects to life across Southeast Asia.

Applications are open, from newbie developers to seasoned blockchain enthusiasts, with free registration available at https://lu.ma/sp4tnz38. To ensure inclusivity, the program offers both on-site and virtual participation options.

Nestlé Philippines inks partnership with Mober for EV-powered logistics

From L-R: Nestlé Philippines Head of Supply Chain and Procurement Anderson Martins and Mober Founder and CEO Dennis Ng

Nestlé Philippines, the world’s largest food & beverage company, has partnered with Mober, a frontrunner in green logistics services in the Philippines, to integrate electric vehicles (EVs) into its mid- and last-mile delivery operations, supporting its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and helping meet its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

As part of the partnership, Mober will provide electric trucks (e-trucks) to service Nestlé Philippines’ logistics needs across Metro Manila.

To ensure seamless and sustainable operations, Mober has dedicated a 60-kWh EV charging station powered entirely by renewable electricity at Nestlé Philippines’ Greater Manila Area Distribution Center (GMADC) in Meycauayan, Bulacan. This infrastructure helps Nestlé’s EV fleet run entirely on renewable electricity when charged at GMADC, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.

Compared to EVs charged with grid electricity, which emit approximately 0.68 kg of CO₂ per kWh, the use of renewable electricity for charging eliminates emissions, setting a new standard for zero-emission logistics.

“At Mober, we believe in taking bold steps toward reducing carbon emissions, and we’re proud to support Nestlé in achieving its 2050 net-zero commitments,” Dennis Ng, CEO of Mober, said. “With our eight electric trucks currently servicing Nestlé Philippines’ operations, we’re helping them not only reduce their carbon footprint but also set an example for the FMCG industry.”

Nestlé Philippines, which achieved 100% renewable electricity in all its sites two years ahead of schedule, has set ambitious sustainability goals, including halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.

“Adding cargo EVs to our distribution fleet is part of our efforts to transform our operations by reducing the carbon emissions of our supply chain. We want our consumers to enjoy their favorite Nestlé products knowing that these were produced and distributed to them using 100% renewable electricity,” said Anderson Martins, head of supply chain and procurement at Nestlé Philippines.

“This is part of Nestlé’s global vision of a net-zero future that has brought about various shifts in sustainable business practices. We hope that by doing this, we can further create a positive impact on society and the planet.”

RemoteGenies competes in Startup Grind Global Pitch Battle quarterfinals

RemoteGenies, the freelance marketplace built by Filipinos for Filipinos, qualified for the Hong Kong Quarterfinals of the prestigious Startup Grind Global Pitch Battle 2025. This milestone underscores the platform’s growing recognition as a global innovator in the freelance industry.

The Startup Grind Global Pitch Battle is a cornerstone event that gathers top-tier startups from around the world, offering them a platform to showcase their groundbreaking solutions. As one of the standout entries in the competition, RemoteGenies’ selection reflects its unique approach to connecting pre-vetted Filipino freelancers with clients worldwide.

RemoteGenies is a founder-led, innovative freelance marketplace designed to connect top-tier Filipino freelancers with global clients. The platform is dedicated to supporting freelancers and clients with a service model rooted in accountability, expertise, and community impact.

RemoteGenies’ unique features include a pre-vetting process for freelancers, a dedicated project coordinator for every task, and the GenieScholar initiative to fund education for underprivileged children in the Philippines for every 200 hours worked by freelancers.

“Qualifying for the Hong Kong Quarterfinals is a testament to the hard work and passion of the RemoteGenies team,” Deanna Visperas, founder of RemoteGenies, said. “This opportunity places us on a global stage, enabling us to share our vision of empowering Filipino talent while offering world-class services to clients everywhere.”

As RemoteGenies competes in the quarterfinals, the company remains steadfast in its mission to elevate Filipino freelancers on the global stage. Winning this competition would further accelerate its ability to make an impact, empowering thousands of freelancers and supporting its social initiatives.

The Hong Kong Quarterfinals of the Startup Grind Global Pitch Battle was held on Jan. 15. The event brought together startups from various industries to pitch their solutions to an audience of investors, industry leaders, and fellow innovators.

For more information about the event, visit the official website at https://about.startupgrind.com/january-2025-global-pitch-battle/.

British School Manila students host Upskills+ Foundation

Building on an existing partnership between the two organizations, the students of Year 6 at the British School Manila (BSM) recently participated in a day of learning and fun with children from Tondo, supported by the Upskills+ Foundation, Inc. (UFI).

Whilst BSM students regularly visit Upskills+ venues in Tondo during the school’s Make-A-Difference Week to work with them to develop community links, this is the first time that children from Upskills+ Foundation have had the opportunity to visit the school and connect with students in BSM’s Primary School.

As well as giving students and the children of Tondo the chance to learn about each other’s lives, the event, filled with games, music, dance, and creative art projects, created a lively and joyful atmosphere, fostering collaboration and connection.

The day was made even more special by the generosity of the BSM community, who rallied together in support of this meaningful initiative. Leading up to the visit, BSM students, teachers, and families collected donations of food, clothing, and school supplies to be shared with the families in Tondo.

The British School Manila (BSM) is a co-educational, private, not-for-profit British international school. Founded in 1976, the school has grown from two classrooms and 32 students in its first year to the present day where BSM welcomes 950+ students aged 3-18, representing 50+ nationalities.

The event marked the expansion of the school’s successful partnership with UFI, an organization committed to empowering marginalized communities, and underscores BSM’s dedication to fostering kindness, service, and global citizenship among its students.

The Service Learning program at BSM, in partnership with the school’s local Service Partners, ensures that students have experiences that inspire growth, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the world.

CLI targets P10 billion from bond issuances this year

CEBU LANDMASTERS, Inc. (CLI) plans to raise P10 billion through bond offerings this year, according to its chairman.

CLI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jose R. Soberano III said during a media briefing in Makati City last week that P5 billion in sustainability-linked bonds will be listed by the first week of March, while another P5 billion will be issued by the fourth quarter.

The two planned offerings represent the second and third tranches of CLI’s P15-billion shelf-registered debt securities program, respectively.

“The next tranche of P5 billion is already in the works. The target listing is by the first week of March. We’re already book-building now,” Mr. Soberano said.

“We plan another P5 billion (bond issuance) in the last quarter to close out the P15 billion. These are probably to refinance,” he added.

The second tranche consists of a base offer of up to P3 billion and an oversubscription option of up to P2 billion of peso-denominated Series D Bonds due in 2028 and Series E Bonds due in 2030.

In December last year, CLI said the second tranche received a “PRS Aa plus” credit rating with a stable outlook from the Philippine Ratings Services Corp. (PhilRatings), citing the company’s sustained earnings growth and competitive advantage in the Visayas and Mindanao markets.

Obligations with a “PRS Aa” rating are “high quality” and subject to very low credit risks, reflecting the company’s “capacity to meet financial commitments.” A stable outlook means the rating is likely to be maintained in the next 12 months.

The company listed the first tranche of the P15-billion shelf-registered debt securities program in October 2022.

Last week, CLI said it would allocate P12 billion for the initial phases of its two maiden projects in Luzon, which consist of a horizontal development and a condominium project.

The company is likely to launch its first Luzon project by 2026.

The property developer has launched close to 130 projects across 17 cities since being established in 2003. Its portfolio consists of residential developments, offices, hotels and resorts, co-living and co-working spaces, mixed-use projects, and large-scale townships.

CLI shares were last traded on Jan. 24 at P2.65 apiece. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

CREC, SMC eye Q1 start for Bataan solar plant construction

CREC.COM.PH

SAAVEDRA-LED Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) and Ang-led SMC Global Light and Power Corp. (SGLP) are targeting to start the construction of their 153.5-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Mariveles, Bataan within the first quarter.

“We’re doing the design already, so we target to break ground maybe in the first quarter this year,” CREC President and Chief Executive Officer Oliver Y. Tan told reporters on Jan. 14.

Mr. Tan said the solar power plant will likely be completed by early next year since the construction may take one year.

In June last year, CREC and SGLP signed an investment and shareholders agreement to jointly develop, construct, and operate a solar power plant.

SGLP is a wholly owned subsidiary of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp., the power arm of San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

The companies will collaborate and cooperate in financing, construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of the plant through the subscription to a special purpose entity.

Upon satisfaction of these conditions, both parties will subscribe to the special purpose entity, with CREC initially owning 49% and SGLP owning 51% of the total issued and subscribed capital stock.

During the construction phase, CREC will subscribe to additional shares, resulting in equal 50:50 ownership between the two companies.

“If successful and both parties are happy, we hope that it will continue to the next and the next (projects),” Mr. Tan said.

CREC aims to add one gigawatt (GW) of capacity annually to the Philippines’ energy mix, focusing on ready-to-build or under-construction projects over the next five years, aiming for a total of around 5 GW by 2028.

For 2025, the company is expecting its first GW worth of energy projects to come online, which are mostly under the government’s second green energy auction held in 2023. It is also rolling out the second GW pipeline this year, according to Mr. Tan.

CREC, directly and through its subsidiaries and joint ventures, manages a diversified portfolio of renewable energy generation projects, power project development operations, and retail electricity supply services.

At present, the company holds a combined gross installed capacity of 285 MW from its solar facilities in the Philippines. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

AirAsia plans MRO facility in Philippines — DoF

REUTERS

THE AirAsia group has expressed plans to establish a maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) facility in the Philippines, according to the Department of Finance (DoF).

The MRO facility is expected to create more jobs and “position the Philippines as a regional hub for aviation services,” the DoF said in a statement after Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto met with AirAsia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anthony Francis “Tony” Fernandes.

They discussed the strategic opportunities for the airline’s expansion in the Philippines, the department said.

Mr. Recto attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 24 as special envoy of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and head of the Philippine delegation.

In a separate post, the Finance chief also had a meeting with HCLSoftware’s Chief Revenue Officer Rajiv Shesh and Chief Product Officer Kalyan Kumar to discuss a potential partnership pushing the digitalization of the country.

HCLSoftware focuses on technology solutions, specializing in intelligent operations, data and analytics, and cybersecurity.

“The company expressed keen interest in supporting research and development initiatives and fostering local talent to cultivate a new generation of highly skilled tech professionals in the Philippines,” the DoF said.

The technology firm has committed to collaborating with the government in developing software technologies and sharing best practices.

On Jan. 24, the DoF said that Mr. Recto also met with Chairman of the Supervisory Board Karl Guha and CEO Steven van Rijswijk of the European bank ING to explore more partnership opportunities with the Philippines, particularly in leveraging artificial intelligence.

In 2025, ING will launch its use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in the country, “making it the next country after the Netherlands and Germany to host live GenAI applications.”

Mr. Recto also had a meeting with HSBC CEO for Asia and the Middle East Surendra Rosha on the bank’s operations in the Philippines. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Louvre Museum adds haute couture to high antiquity

PARIS — The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, is for first time displaying haute couture gowns and accessories from fashion houses, including Chanel, Saint Laurent, and Dior, next to decorative arts from Ancient Greece to France’s Second Empire.

“Paris is the capital of fashion — there is a very strong relationship between the fashion houses and Paris, and the Louvre is in the heart of Paris,” Olivier Gabet, director of the museum’s decorative arts department, told Reuters on Friday at the opening of the couture exhibition.

Fashion houses have used the grounds of the Louvre for shows — but not the museum itself — and fashion designers, including Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, and Karl Lagerfeld, have long had an affinity for the museum and its collections.

But Mr. Gabet said the exhibition was “the first time the Louvre brings fashion inside the museum in this way.”

A silk ball gown designed by John Galliano for Dior in 2006 sits in the center of a room dedicated to Louis XIV, lined with ornate, gilded furniture and towering portraits of the Sun King.

In another room, Alexander McQueen’s platform Armadillo shoes from 2011 are displayed in a case next to a 17th-century plate featuring pond life.

“The idea of this kind of exhibit is to say ‘come to the Louvre, look at the collections differently,’” said Mr. Gabet.

Home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Louvre has requested urgent help from the French government to restore and renovate its ageing exhibition halls and better protect its countless works of art.

The couture exhibition runs through July 21. —  Reuters

The Davos ‘vibe shift’ is no surprise

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US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week came after a frenzy of executive orders, many of them targeting long-standing diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in the federal government. But he also sent a strong signal to the business world, instructing government agencies to identify “up to nine” companies and others in the private sector that should be investigated for their DEI practices.

At Davos at least, corporate leaders were already channeling the message.

The gathering of the global elite has long been the place where business leaders can put their heads together over cocktails and canapés to bat around solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. In the past, the confab has been a breeding ground for initiatives to foster workplace diversity, fight climate change, and leverage business to combat income inequality.

But this year, Davos was different. Significant slices of corporate America have been divesting themselves of the world-saving ideals that Davos is built on.

Even before Trump won reelection in early November, concepts like DEI and ESG had fallen out of vogue, and much of corporate America had moved to change their initiatives and messaging to match the new political environment.

Companies including Walmart, Inc., the US’ largest private-sector employer, have walked back some of their DEI efforts under pressure from right-wing activists. Big financial institutions from JPMorgan Chase & Co. to BlackRock, Inc. have exited one of the world’s biggest business groups committed to battling climate change.

And the speed at which some companies have changed their policies to please Trump and his anti-woke posse has raised serious questions as to whether they ever really believed the rhetoric. (On Thursday, Trump beamed into Davos via video, giving his stock stump speech and taking a few softball questions from CEOs.)

“It’s sort of like, ‘OK, which time were you lying?’” Tom Glocer, Davos attendee and lead director of Morgan Stanley and Merck & Co., Inc., remarked to Bloomberg News about the abrupt turnaround. Some CEOs are likely relieved “they no longer have to put on a mask,” he added. “Their behavior and pronouncements are maybe moving toward their true self.” One executive described the change to New York TimesDealBook as an “exhilarating return” to the “before times” and another joked that he was there for DEI — “deregulation, energy, and investment.”

At Davos, there were of course a few exceptions to the rule. Both JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. CEO David Solomon said during television appearances that they would continue to focus on DEI programs, even as shareholder activists put them under pressure. “Bring them on,” Dimon said.

But for longtime cynics of big business’ “change the world” positioning, it has not been enough to counter the feeling that this year’s so-called Davos “vibe shift” is yet another proof point that much of the do-gooder rhetoric was posturing and PR, not a true ethos.

Alison Taylor, New York University business school professor and author of Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World, said it seems the general message coming out of Davos this year was “game over, and it’s Trump’s world now, and DEI is dead.” But she points out that the so-called “Davos Consensus” is usually wrong. In 2016, it was that Trump wouldn’t be elected president, in 2020 that he would, and in 2023 that there would be a recession. (It was a rare win last year when the Davos set said Trump would prevail in the election.)

It’s hard to get predictions about the state of the world right when you’re making them from a privileged bubble in the Swiss Alps. Down in the real world, Costco Wholesale Corp. this week easily defeated a shareholder proposal meant to undermine its diversity efforts. It was a reminder that the game might not be over quite yet.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Xanadu Agri seeking tie-ups to promote use of liquid fertilizer 

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By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter

XANADU Agriproducts, Inc. said that it is looking to partner with more government agencies and farmer cooperatives to promote its liquid fertilizer, saying that the product holds the potential to improve yields compare to traditional fertilizer.

“The primary goal right now is we’re investing all our efforts to just make the product available via trials through government agencies, local government units, and cooperatives for them to just experience the product in one planting cycle,” Xanadu Agriproducts Chairman and President Wellington C. Soong told BusinessWorld.

The company said that its liquid formulation ensures better absorption of nutrients.

“We want farmers to try the product for themselves and that’s where we invest. We provide them with the products. We work with them to follow the protocol and when they see the results of the harvest, then they will come back on their own,” he added.

To expand its market, the company has engaged UNAHCO, Inc., the animal nutrition and healthcare subsidiary of United Laboratories, Inc., as its national distributor.

UNAHCO has “about over 5,000 distributors nationwide so that becomes part of our network and footprint to bring the products to more farmers,” he said.

Mr. Soong said that the company conducts side-by-side trials against traditional fertilizers to demonstrate to farmers the product’s potential.

“When we achieve (improved yields) on a bigger scale and we have the critical mass, then that would be my legacy to Philippine agriculture, to contribute to our food crisis,” Mr. Soong said.

According to the company’s field trials, a rice farm in Oriental Mindoro achieved a yield of 7.75 metric tons (MT) per hectare, more than double the yield of the farm serving as the control, which did not use the fertilizer.

Corn trials were also conducted at a farm in Sultan Kudarat which achieved a yield of 6.73 MT per hectare against the 2.35 MT for the control.

“It’s really important because we are introducing a new technology. So we’re changing mindsets. It’s in a way, it’s one of our greatest challenges in terms of educating the grassroots,” Mr. Soong said.

The company claims its product is more biodegradable and environmentally friendly compared to traditional fertilizers.

“We use inorganic ingredients, but we are 100% eco-safe. With us it’s nutrients and water so (its) biodegradable (and) non-toxic to even to small insects,” Xanadu Agriproducts Executive Director Hazel R. Loreto-Murphee said.

Traditional granular fertilizer has been observed to cause soil to degrade with excessive use, the company said.

PH1 rolls out P14B worth of projects

LYKKEKONDOPASIGCITY.COM

REAL ESTATE developer PH1 World Developers, Inc. has launched three new projects worth over P14 billion, including a condominium in Pasig City. The company’s new launches include the Lykke Kondo condominium in Pasig City, the third tower of One Lancaster Park in Imus, Cavite, and the Southscapes project in Trece Martires, Cavite.

PH1 Assistant Vice-President Spike Alphonsus Ching told reporters during the launch event in Quezon City last week that the first phase of Lykke Kondo has a market value of P11 billion.

He added that the third tower of One Lancaster Park has a market value of P1.5 billion, while Southscapes has a market value of P1.8 billion.

PH1 is the real estate subsidiary of Saavedra-led listed infrastructure conglomerate Megawide Construction Corp.

“We transform spaces into something extraordinary through innovation and technology that ensures the highest quality and value for money,” PH1 President Gigi G. Alcantara said.

Located at the Ligaya Intersection in Pasig City, Lykke Kondo is a one-hectare development that consists of three residential towers with 1,736 units.

The project offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom configurations.

Lykke Kondo features AddLoft technology that provides up to 40% extra space, offering a two-bedroom unit at the price of a one-bedroom unit, resulting in savings of up to P4 million on premium inclusions.

The third tower of the 15-tower One Lancaster Park condo project is located at the Lancaster New City mixed-use development in Cavite.

The project offers up to 17 square meters of additional space for free. Unit prices start at P134,000 per square meter (sq.m.), with savings of up to P2 million on loft spaces for a two-bedroom unit offering 49 sq.m. of floor area.

The first two towers of the One Lancaster Park condo project have 191 units each.

Southscapes Trece Martires, PH1’s second horizontal development, is situated on a five-hectare lot in Trece Martires and offers 343 units. Prices range from P3 million to P10 million.

“That’s our strategy. Bring down the cost and push the quality,” PH1 Chairman Edgar B. Saavedra said.

Ms. Alcantara said that PH1 is also gearing up to launch a low-cost project this year. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

A glimpse of the future of Philippine fashion

LOOK by Benilde Fashion Design and Merchandising student Krissie Teruel.

SINULID, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s (DLS-CSB) graduation fashion show for its Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) students, proved to be an opportunity to see the future of Filipino fashion, as well as see the college’s future plans for its program.

Over 34 collections (each a pair of outfits) were on the runway set up at the 12th floor of the Design + Arts Campus on Jan. 25. Notable ones include Love, h, Reyna, Para Kay Nanay, Threads of Fate, Imahinasyon sa Banyera, and Kasakdalan ng Dahas at Laman.

Love, h by Hannah Barrera consisted of an outfit with a stiff red veil that could be crumpled and used as a wrap. Its accompanying piece, a fuchsia cocoon draped over the head, can also be collapsed into a shawl. Reyna by Erin Dare Nicolas had a standard 1930s terno, but instead of a panuelo (a fichu), the designer used metal and jewels to recreate the shape.

Para Kay Nanay by Lance Ernest Rubio saw a flesh-colored slip dress with a pleated bodice, accessorized by a layered stole and a lace veil; but also a lace veil over a baseball cap paired with a matte bone-colored jacket hemmed with layers of pleats. Threads of Fate by Kim Kathleen Chua had a sheer blue dress, its skirt a short cage crinoline: each panel has some figure on it from the Tarot.

Imahinasyon sa Banyera by Elijah Mananghaya had an imaginative use of terrycloth, using the bathroom or poolside fabric for a stunning outfit, while Kasakdalan ng Dahas at Laman (perfection of violence and flesh) by Serena San Jose had a brown material made to resemble earth, forming a spiral over the body.

NATURAL FABRICS
Andrea Ionica Abrahan Lim, Chairperson for the Fashion Design and Merchandising program told BusinessWorld that they place a special focus on fabric manipulation. “We don’t want our students to just buy from Divisoria, Carolina’s, or Fabric Warehouse: readily available fabrics. They end up having similar designs,” she said. Students are encouraged to use natural materials, “things that are very abundant here in the Philippines.” This is such as focus that for the next schoolyear, they’re launching a new program in Textile Design, partnering with the Department of Science and Technology — Philippine Textile Research Institute (DoST-PTRI) as well as schools abroad.

The program is turning 20 years in 2026, while DLS-CSB is gearing up to open its fashion and costume design institute. Ms. Lim declined to give dates and a location, though a previous BusinessWorld story said the art deco former Instituto Cervantes building nearby may be a possible site.

Ms. Lim did talk about their preparations for the future institute which include visiting a conservation center in Singapore; having training and internships under architect Gerry Torres, who is the curator and Director for the Center for Campus Art for DLS-CSB, for some students in conservation; bringing in new collections from National Artists Slim Higgins and Ramon Valera; and holding workshops on garment conservation (one in December had a specialist from Japan to discuss this). — Joseph L. Garcia