Cebu Pacific receives Airbus eco-plane

November 29, 2021 | 12:02 am

CEBU Pacific received its first Airbus A330neo (new engine option) on Sunday, a larger aircraft that will allow it to carry more travelers in a single flight and reduce carbon footprint per passenger, the budget carrier said.

The airline targets to have an all-neo fleet by 2027.

“[This] brings us closer to our target… and shows our commitment to making air travel accessible while ensuring environmental and social sustainability,” Cebu Pacific Chief Strategy Officer Alex B. Reyes said in an e-mailed statement.

According to aviation think tank Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), the airline industry, which is still reeling from the financial shock of the coronavirus pandemic, faces another critical challenge as global pressure to accelerate net zero emissions grows.

“With the A330neo’s latest technologies, this eco-plane uses 25% less fuel than previous generation aircraft — able to consume as little as 1.4 liters per seat per 100 kilometers, thus, burning less fuel and emitting less carbon,” Cebu Pacific said.

CAPA and its partner Envest Global, a carbon reduction strategist, said in their report released in October that the “next three to five years could see failures of multiple airlines that do not have the financial strength to invest in decarbonization, and/or misjudge the need to accelerate their climate mitigation plans.”

The budget carrier’s new aircraft features 459 lightweight seats. “The A330neo is the first aircraft in the world already certified to comply with ICAO’s (International Civil Aviation Organization) CO₂ emissions standards beyond 2028,” Airbus Asia-Pacific President Anand Stanley said.

“The airline will benefit from the aircraft’s step-change in performance and economics, while maintaining passenger comfort and lowest operating costs,” he added.

Cebu Air, Inc., the listed operator of Cebu Pacific, saw its attributable net loss in the nine months to September widen to P21.99 billion from a loss of P14.69 billion in the same period last year.

The company’s January-to-September total revenues dropped 52.7% to P9.15 billion from P19.34 billion in the same period in 2020. Operating loss reached P18.84 billion from P13.72 billion last year. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Toyota Motor PHL bestowed with highest Philippine Quality Award

November 29, 2021 | 12:02 am

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TOYOTA MOTOR Philippines Corp. (TMP) recently won the 2019 Philippine Quality Award (PQA) for Performance Excellence. The country’s leading automotive company was awarded by the government through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for attaining the PQA Level 4, the highest level of national recognition for exemplary organizational performance in Total Quality Management (TQM).

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the awarding, together with DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and DTI Competitiveness Bureau Director Lilian Salonga, during the 2019-2020 PQA Conferment Ceremony.

Said Mr. Duterte in the PQA Conferment Ceremony, “I am with you in honoring public and private sector organizations who have embodied excellence in their pursuits. I call on all the awardees to continue your work that redound to the benefit of our people.”

TMP is the first automotive manufacturing company in the Philippines to become a PQA recipient, and only the second Philippine organization in PQA’s 22-year history to achieve Level 4, the “Philippine Quality Award for Performance Excellence.”

“(We are) honored to receive such (a) high distinction in the PQA history, as well as to share TMP’s best practices that can serve as a benchmark for other Philippine industries,” stated TMP Chairman Alfred V. Ty.

The company attributed its consistent industry and market leadership to customer trust over the past three decades. “TMP’s achievements are the result of its strong commitment to total quality and excellence embedded in every aspect of its operations,” it said in a release. The company also cited its stable base of business predicated on “Toyota core values, creative ways of managing resources, as well as rich experience in manufacturing, logistics, sales, and after-sales operations.”

The country’s largest car maker is widely known to be responsible for the development of the domestic automotive manufacturing industry. TMP currently produces the best-selling Vios and Innova models. It ensures the timely delivery of Toyota vehicles across the nation through its expansive logistics facilities, including the newly inaugurated Batangas Vehicle Center. Through its highly skilled team members employed in the Toyota network, TMP works to create an outstanding customer experience while serving the nation’s mobility needs.

For his part, TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto said, “The PQA award further inspires us to continue to improve and ultimately help our business become more sustainable, especially with new ventures that we are taking on. The PQA’s focus on customer-centricity reminds us to be much interlinked with the rapidly changing market, especially as we develop a total mobility solution that will be an enabler of inclusive growth for more stakeholders.”

“We are also thankful to the DTI-Competitiveness Bureau for its motivation to companies, regardless of size or sector, to uphold quality and contribute to national competitiveness,” opined TMP Vice-Chairman Dr. David Go. “With the strong and continued support from the Government, we believe local manufacturers like TMP can develop the capability to compete in the global arena and drive economic growth.”

Established in August 1988, TMP is the largest automotive manufacturing company in the country with a 3,500-strong workforce. It has the widest vehicle lineup and most extensive distribution network with over 70 dealers nationwide.

The PQA is a national award program that recognizes achievements of organizations in their journey towards performance excellence. It was the centerpiece program of the National Action Agenda for Productivity (NAAP) in 1997, the blueprint for the country’s integrated approach to improve economy-wide productivity.

The PQA was institutionalized in 2001 through the signing of Republic Act 9013, also known as the Philippine Quality Award Act. The PQA sets a standard of excellence to help Filipino organizations achieve world-class performance, and serves as a template for competitiveness based on the principles of TQM.

Peso may weaken on data

November 29, 2021 | 12:02 am

THE PESO may weaken against the dollar on expectations of weak local manufacturing data and better US jobs numbers. — BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO may depreciate further versus the greenback this week on expectations of positive US jobs data and weaker local manufacturing activity due to supply chain disruptions.

The local unit ended trading at P50.43 versus the dollar on Friday, depreciating by four centavos from its P50.39 close on Thursday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

Week on week, it also lost two centavos from its P50.41-per-dollar finish on Nov. 19.

The peso weakened due to concerns over increasing coronavirus infections in some countries, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The newly detected variant in South Africa also resulted in cautious sentiment, making investors flock to the safe-haven dollar, he added.

Some European countries have seen an uptick in cases in the previous weeks. Austria has already reinstated lockdown measures, while Germany may follow suit.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization on Friday identified the Omicron first detected in South Africa as a variant of concern as it has a large number of mutations and an increased risk of reinfection.

The variant has already been detected in other parts of the world, including Europe, Israel, and Hong Kong.

The hawkish minutes of the latest US Federal Reserve meeting also caused the peso to depreciate last week, UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said in an e-mail.

The minutes for the Fed’s November policy review released Wednesday showed many officials believe the US central bank should be prepared for a quicker tapering of asset purchases if inflation remains elevated, Reuters reported.

Mr. Asuncion said the peso may continue to weaken this week on expectations of weak local manufacturing data due to supply chain disruptions.

IHS Markit will release the November Philippine Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) on Dec. 1. In October, the country’s PMI reading increased to 51 from 50.9 in September, still above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ricafort said the market will also take cues from US jobs data.

The US Labor department will release the nonfarm payrolls report for November on Friday. Last month, nonfarm payrolls increased by 531,000 from the 312,000 jobs created in September.

For this week, Mr. Asuncion gave a forecast range of P50.20 to P50.60 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort expects the local unit to move within P50.20 to P50.60. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

Dingdong and daughter are Christmas sale ambassadors.

November 29, 2021 | 12:02 am

Vivo is Shopee’s top brand for 2021

DINGDONG Dantes and Zia, his daughter with actress Marian Rivera, were introduced as Shopee’s Big Christmas sale ambassadors during a press conference last week, with a preview of their commercial which is available on YouTube. The press conference also saw the awarding of Shopee’s top brands.

This year’s top brand is tech company Vivo for its sales and overall performance. Receiving the award for Best Performing Rookie of the Year was cleaning products company SC Johnson, while Unilever received the Campaign Champion of the Year Award, for participating in 67 campaigns this year, as well as hitting 155% of their sales target.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, noted the billions in sales they made during their 9.9 and 11.11 sales. According to him, 45 million items were sold in the first 99 minutes of the 9.9 (Sept. 9) sale, while earlier this month, on Nov. 11, two billion items were sold across the region on the platform. He also noted that Shopee Mall now has 30,000 brands under its umbrella, reflecting 40% growth in the number of brands in its roster.

“E-commerce in the Philippines saw 132% growth in GMV (gross merchandise value) versus last year, as more Filipinos began to buy and sell online,” he said.

12.12 DEALS
During the 12.12 sale, shoppers can enjoy deals such as free shipping with no minimum spend, ₱1 Deals, and 10% off daily. They can also get up to 90% off on brands like Maybelline, Pampers, Vivo, Oppo, Huawei, Palmolive, Unilever, Adidas, Cetaphil, and Wow Happy.

At 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, shoppers can tune in to GMA 7 and Shopee Live to catch Tomorrow X Together, a Korean pop group, perform. Local celebrities such as Michael V, Ysabel Ortega, Kate Valdez, Rayver Cruz, Julie Ann Jose, and Andrea Torres will also join host Willie Revillame for a star-studded evening.

Shopee will also be launching Shopee Celebrates Local, a contest to promote local sellers. Users can read stories on the local sellers on the #TatakPinoy page and on Shopee’s social media channels, and vote for their favorites until Dec. 5. Winning sellers stand to win prizes they can use for their businesses, while users stand to win Shopee vouchers. Through the Tatak Pinoy page, users can also avail of deals when supporting these sellers.

Finally, Shopee launches the Frontliner Holiday Package. Starting Dec. 10, frontliners can avail of this package, which includes vouchers they can use for their holiday celebrations. — JLG

Modi fails to appease angry India farmers now marching to Delhi

November 29, 2021 | 12:01 am

INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise decision to scrap three contentious farm laws may not be enough to stem a yearlong protest movement by farmers, with the two sides yet to close the gap on another crucial issue — guaranteed prices for crops.

The protesters postponed their planned march to the capital New Delhi on Monday, after the government assured the laws will be repealed next week when parliament reconvenes for its winter session. Still, the farmers want to push ahead with their demands that include setting up of a mechanism to ensure farmers get minimum support rates for all harvests.

India currently fixes the rates for two dozen farm commodities, including some grains and pulses, and procures limited volumes for its welfare programs at those levels. Private players buy agricultural goods at market-determined prices.

The government has said it will form a group to find ways to make the system “more effective,” but that’s not enough for the protesters. They demand a new law to make it illegal to buy crops below the state-set prices.

“We are not fond of sitting on the streets,” Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella group of farmers’ associations, said in a letter to Modi dated Nov. 21. “We too desire that after resolving these other issues as soon as possible, we return to our homes, families and farming. If you want the same, then the government should immediately resume talks.”

POLITICAL PRICE
The farmers’ continued anger could carry a political cost for Modi, who announced his biggest policy reversal since assuming power in 2014 by scrapping the farm laws earlier this month ahead of some state elections. It could dent Modi’s image as a strong and decisive leader.

Analysts say that establishing a price guarantee system for agricultural goods would be impossible, both logistically and fiscally, given India’s annual output of food grains alone of about 300 million tons, the risk of inflation and the government’s stretched budget due to the pandemic.

“The real reason behind the farmers’ demand is their desire for some stability and certainty in their incomes,” said Shoumitro Chatterjee, assistant professor of economics at Pennsylvania State University. But given India’s budget situation, providing such income certainty via a guaranteed price at the national level may be infeasible, he said.

Modi’s retreat on farm laws has already cast a shadow on the pace of reforms that his administration had promised. Farmers form a powerful voting bloc in the country, where agriculture supports about 60% of its 1.4 billion people.

“Our agriculture sector is crying for massive reforms,” said Atul Chaturvedi, president of the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India. “Current high MSP (minimum support price) can never be sustainable as it would hurt consumers big time.”

The government buys mainly rice and wheat for its welfare programs, mostly from states such as Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. Any rise in government purchases would worsen an already wide fiscal deficit, seen at 6.8% of India’s GDP in 2021-22.

BALLOONING SUBSIDY
Buying more at government-set prices could cause the food subsidy bill, which may exceed $33 billion in 2021-22, to balloon further. It could also lead to over-production of crops in India, the world’s biggest grower of cotton and the second-largest producer of wheat, rice and sugar.

“Now we are in a phase where our problem with food is efficient management of surplus,” said Suyash Rai, deputy director and fellow at Carnegie India. If more and more is bought through the public-procurement system, “how will we handle that?”

But farmers say the government only buys from a few states that have good transport network. Price instability is the biggest concern in India, where 86% of farmers cultivate plots of about 2 hectares (5 acres) or less.

“The government procures only in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh. That too only rice and wheat. So farmers everywhere sell to traders at a lower price,” said Ashok Dhawale, president of the All India Kisan Sabha, a group representing farmers. “The MSP has meaning only when there is a government procurement machinery,” he said. — Bloomberg

GM Barbosa powers San Juan to third PCAP title

November 29, 2021 | 12:01 am

GRANDMASTER (GM) Oliver Barbosa swept all his four games to power San Juan to a 19-2, 11.5-9.5 win over last year’s winner Iloilo and claim the 3^rd Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) title on Saturday night.

The United States-based Mr. Barbosa overpowered Karl Viktor Ochoa in their two rapid and two blitz games to help propel the Predators to their first crown in this three-year-old pro league.

The triumph also avenged San Juan’s 8-13, 9.5-11.5 loss to the same GM Joey Antonio-led Iloilo squad in last year’s finale.

“The biggest factor was the team stayed focused and determined,” said San Juan owner Michael Ong Chua.

Grizzled International Master (IM) Ricky de Guzman and Narquingel Reyes also won their four games to help seal the surprisingly one-sided triumph for the Predators, who hurdled the Caloocan Loadmanna Knights, 14-7, 16.5-4.5, in the Northern Division finals on Wednesday.

Also contributing to the win were FIDE Master Arden Reyes, Woman IM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Narciso Gumila and IM Rolando Nolte, who snatched 1.5 points from his four duels with the fancied Mr. Antonio.

The Kinsela Knights, who turned back Penang of Malaysia, 9.5-11.5, 14.5-6.5, 2-1, in the South, settled for a runner-up finish. — Joey Villar

PSEi seen sideways on fresh coronavirus concerns

November 29, 2021 | 12:01 am

STOCKS may move sideways this week amid volatile trade due to month-end window dressing and concerns over the spread of a new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variant.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slid 90.83 points or 1.23% to close at 7,278.44 on Friday, while the broader all shares index dropped 41.88 points or 1.07% to end at 3,871.39.

Week on week, the local bourse slipped by 2.13 points from its 7,280.57 close on Nov. 19.

“Last week saw mostly sideways action, with the index even retesting the 7,400 level. However, majority of the sell-off on Friday was attributed to the scare caused by the Omicron variant, which was already detected in several countries and regions, including neighboring Hong Kong,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

“The week started on a good note, as investors took positively the rollout of COVID-19 booster shots in the country, which in turn sparked hopes for a further reopening of the economy in the coming months. However, sentiment was parred towards the end of the week, amid participants feeling anxious that the US Federal Reserve might raise interest rates earlier than expected,” Timson Securities Inc. Trader Darren Blaine T. Pangan said in a Viber message on Saturday.

On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.529), now called Omicron, as a “variant of concern” and indicated that their preliminary evidence suggests that it has a high reinfection rate.

First detected in South Africa, the Omicron variant has now recorded cases in Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Botswana, Israel, and Hong Kong, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, most US central bank policy makers are open to speeding up the unwinding of their bond-buying program if high inflation persists, which would lead them to raise interest rates sooner than expected.

For this week, analysts said trading could be volatile due to persistent concerns over the new coronavirus variant.

“Market may recover on window dressing at last day of the month after getting oversold last week, but the new variant of the virus may continue to provide market uncertainties — thus, volatility may persist,” said Diversified Securities Inc. Equity Trader Ancieto K. Pangan said in a text message on Sunday.

He pegged the PSEi’s resistance at 7,419 to 7,475, while support is at 7,209 to 7,049.

Meanwhile, China Bank Securities Corp. Research Director Rastine Mackie D. Mercado said in an e-mail on Sunday that the PSEi may consolidate with 7,000 to 7,100 as its support area.

“Monday’s close could prove to be critical as a break below 7,270 will likely lead to deeper breakdown. Volatility is also likely to pick up in the coming week,” Mr. Mercado added. — M.C. Lucenio with Reuters

Updated Volkswagen T-Cross SE is home for the holidays

November 29, 2021 | 12:01 am

VELO_DASH_2_image1 — PHOTO FROM VOLKSWAGEN PHILIPPINES

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VOLKSWAGEN PHILIPPINES has announced the arrival of the updated SE variant of its T-Cross vehicle. Badged as a 2022 model, the T-Cross SE is said to offer “more features attuned to the evolving needs of multi-faceted, on-the-go millennials.”

It gets a digital Active Info Display (AID) that lends drivers better performance graphics showing important information at a glance, without needing to take attention off the road, adding to an overall better driving experience.

The infotainment system of the T-Cross SE boasts wireless Apple CarPlay for more seamless connectivity, “completing an uplifting drive experience with the T-Cross.”

Volkswagen Philippines added that the 2022 T-Cross SE’s new features “perfectly complement the fun body color choices, such as Tribu, Syringa Violet, Romance Red, Chinchilla Gray, and Polar White, such that the overall vibe truly reflect the value its intended owners place on individuality and the expression of uniqueness using aesthetics.”

The company offers an extraordinarily low reservation fee of P1,250 on the model. For more information, visit any Volkswagen dealership. Contact Volkswagen BGC at (02) 8558-5888, Volkswagen Quezon Avenue at (02) 8558-5818, Volkswagen Pampanga at (45) 961-1888, Volkswagen Santa Rosa at 0935-427-8545, Volkswagen Cebu at (32) 517-8226, Volkswagen Iloilo at (33) 331-2622, Volkswagen Bacolod at (034) 435-7575, and Volkswagen Cagayan de Oro at 0905-692-0629. Check out www.volkswagen.com.ph; like and follow the Volkswagen Philippines Facebook page and Instagram account at @volkswagenph to keep updated.

Yields on gov’t debt drop on BTr’s borrowing plan

November 29, 2021 | 12:01 am

YIELDS on government securities mostly dropped last week due to the Treasury’s borrowing program for December, which showed it plans to raise less funds from the local market.

Debt yields, which move opposite to prices, went down by an average of 4.3 basis points (bps) week on week, based on the PHP Bloomberg Valuation (BVAL) Service Reference Rates as of Nov. 26 published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website.

At the short end of the curve, yields on 91-, 182-, and 363-day Treasury bills (T-bills) inched up by 2.07 bps (to 1.2378%), 0.46 bp (to 1.4571%), and 5.53 bps (to 1.6963%), respectively.

At the belly of the curve, the rate of the two-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) jumped by 4.54 bps (to 2.7672%). Meanwhile, the three-, four-, five-, and seven-year bonds declined by 5.81 bps (to 3.265%), 11.28 bps (to 3.6987%), 12.15 bps (to 4.0551%), and 11.26 bps (to 4.5301%), respectively.

At the long end, the rates of the 10-, 20-, and 25-year T-bonds fell by 9.56 bps (to 4.9981%), 4.7 bps (to 5.0187%), and 5.18 bps (to 5.0011%), respectively.

“The local yield curve continued to bear-flatten [last] week as front-end yields rose while belly and longer bonds moved lower,” First Metro Asset Management, Inc. (FAMI) said in a Viber message.

“Yields in the 5-year and up sector found support as market cheered on the lower debt supply for December.”

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said it plans to raise P70 billion from the domestic market in December, down from the previous month’s program after seeing strong demand for its retail Treasury bond (RTB) offer.

The December borrowing plan is lower than the P200-billion program initially set in November, before the BTr canceled the auctions of P35 billion each in five-year and seven-year T-bonds on Nov. 16 and 23 to give way to the RTB offering.

The Treasury raised an initial P113.545 billion at its price-setting auction on Nov. 16 for its offer of 5.5-year RTBs. This was oversubscribed by more than five times versus the initial P30-billion offer.

Bank of the Philippine Islands Chief Market Strategist Marco Miguel M. Javier said the lower borrowing program for next month may temper supply risk this week and keep rates sideways or lower.

“We’re keen on Chairman Powell’s testimony to the Senate Banking Committee next week for any clues on a faster tapering/rate lift-off,” he said in a Viber message. “The threat of a new COVID-19 variant may also weigh on investors’ minds.”

US President Joseph R. Biden said he plans to nominate Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome H. Powell to another term as head of the central bank, through which Mr. Powell would face confirmation hearings with the Senate Banking Committee.

Minutes of the Fed’s recent meeting said officials want to be prepared for a quicker tapering of asset purchases if inflation remains elevated, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s health minister had announced the detection of a new coronavirus disease 2019 variant, which scientists said had a high number of mutations.

FAMI said flattening pressure on the curve may persist in the near term heading into the listing date of the RTBs.

“We see GS (government securities) yields to remain supported until yearend to early next year in view of inflation falling back within the BSP’s (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) 2-4% target.”

Headline inflation last month slowed to 4.6% from 4.8% in September amid a slower increase in food prices. Still, this was the third straight month inflation exceeded the central bank’s target. — J.P. Ibañez

Style (11/29/21)

November 29, 2021 | 12:01 am

https://www.campfirecreative.studio/ — G-DRAGON, Nike Kwondo1

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G-DRAGON’s new Nike Kwondo1

NIKE and South Korean designer G-DRAGON have launched the Nike Kwondo1, a second footwear collaboration and new silhouette. Leveraging a white canvas design, G-DRAGON, and his PEACEMINUSONE label, came up with the Nike Kwondo1. Key features of the shoe include: a premium leather upper with Brogue detailing inspired by Nike’s Tiempo football boots and classic golf shoes; stylish wings, removeable flap tongue and lace kiltie to balance both a formal and sporty aesthetic; an all-white colorway silhouette that serves as a blank canvas for any look and style; the PEACEMINUSONE daisy motif embroidered on the back tabs, and together with the label’s detailing on the tooling and aglets, represent Nike’s partnership with one of the most creative minds in the world. The footwear is named for the blending of Korean martial arts “taekwondo,” G-DRAGON’s Korean name Kwon Ji Yong, and Nike’s slogan “Just Do It.” The Nike Kwondo1 will be released globally on Dec. 3 on Nike.com, SNKRS, and at select retailers, and in North America in early 2022.

Uniqlo opens its 1^st store in Camanava

JAPANESE global apparel retailer, Uniqlo, opened its first store in the area within the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (Camanava) at SM City Grand Central on Nov. 26. Located at the 2^nd level of the mall, the Uniqlo SM City Grand Central store has 830 sqm shopping space featuring the brand’s LifeWear clothing. The new store will showcase the latest lineup of Uniqlo items — including the latest Fall/Winter collection for men, women, kids and babies, just in time for the holidays. Shoppers can avail of special offers from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3 on Women’s Ultra Stretch Leggings Pants, Men’s Chino Shorts, and Kids Easy Shorts. For more updates, visit Uniqlo Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and follow social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial).

Maybelline Lifter Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid now in PHL

MAYBELLINE’S new Lifter Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid has been going viral on TikTok for all the right reasons: it is a hydrating and plumping gloss. Usually used in skincare, Hyaluronic Acid or HA is a cult-favorite among skincare aficionados. The hype is real with Hyaluronic Acid: an ingredient that attracts and holds on to moisture in skin cells. With HA as a key ingredient in its formula, Maybelline Lifter Gloss is able to give lips a plump, luscious look upon application and nourishes lips at the same time. Maybelline’s formula keeps lips supple and hydrated with care. And it has an easy-to-use XL wand. The gloss is available in six pink and nude shades. The lip gloss is available for P349 at Maybelline’s Official Lazada and Shopee stores: https://bit.ly/LifterGloss-Shop.

Gift giving with Avon

GOOGLE reports that global searches for “online gift” increased by 80% in 2020 compared to 2019, and has expanded beyond the usual special occasions like birthdays and the holidays, as well as giving gifts beyond immediate family or social circles. Facebook also shares that about 73% of holiday shoppers in the Philippines agree that the holidays is the best season to find deals. So Avon is making it easy to shop for gifts online via www.avonshop.ph, with everything from make-up and fragrances, skincare and jewelry, intimates and accessories, and more, all in one shop. These include the Far Away Royale fragrance, Avon Anew Essence for skincare, and the latest Avon x Love Marie Collection Plate set. For the undecided, Avon representatives can recommend gifts based on who you’re giving to and the best products that fit your budget. Don’t have an Avon Representative? Visit www.avon.ph or like and check out Avon Philippines on Facebook.

A ‘merry’ safe Christmas at SM Supermalls

SM Supermalls is making sure that all its visitors get to have a “merry” safe Christmas. For one, SM malls have rolled out its #SafeMallingAtSM campaign. This means that as government alert level restrictions slowly ease, SM is intensifying its safety protocols to ensure public health and safety, especially during the holiday rush. SM malls nationwide are disinfected thoroughly and regularly, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic, plus alcohol dispensers are deployed in strategic places. Meanwhile, all mallgoers are required to have their temperature checked at the mall entrances, wear their face masks and shields, and encouraged to practice social distancing at all times. To date, 77 SM malls have been awarded the Safety Seal. This is a voluntary certification that affirms that the establishment is compliant with the government’s public health standards and utilizes contact tracing with StaySafe.ph. Meanwhile, Santa Clause may not be coming to town but “Santi” Claus is. Santi the robot will be found around the decked halls of select SM malls to greet visitors and help ensure health and well-being by sanitizing every area with an aerosol disinfectant that is 100% hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and non-corrosive. Currently, over 5 million COVID-19 jabs have been given at SM malls nationwide in partnership with the LGUs. Moreover, SM employees are 100% vaccinated. With all the essentials – from the latest gadgets, to new home décor, from dining, and self-care sessions with a new hairstyle or manicure; to getting vaccinated, and even applying for government IDs — found at SM, visitors don’t have to go anywhere else to complete their Christmas shopping and tick off that to-do list. Still, if someone decides to play it safe by opting to stay at home, SM still has them covered through its SM Store Gift Registry and SM Malls Online app. Ask family and friends for their wish list for the holidays through SMS, Viber, Facebook, and e-mail using the SM Store’s Gift Registry app (https://www.thesmstore.com/pages/gift-registry). The SM Malls Online app is available for free via the Google Play or App Store with SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, and SM Mall of Asia.

Lush is becoming anti-social

THE GLOBAL brand Lush has turned its back on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat until these platforms take action to provide a safer environment for users, the company said in a statement. This policy is rolling out across all the 48 countries where Lush operates. Concerns about the serious effects of social media are barely being acknowledged, it noted, so Lush “has decided to address these serious issues now and to start by changing its own practices rather than waiting until others notice that there is actually a real problem.” Having previously attempted this in 2019, the company said “our resolve has been strengthened by all the latest information from courageous whistleblowers, which clearly lays out the known harms that young people are exposed to because of the current algorithms and loose regulation of this new area of our lives.” Jack Constantine, Lush’s CDO and Product Inventor, is quoted as saying, “As an inventor of bath bombs, I pour all my efforts into creating products that help people switch off, relax and pay attention to their wellbeing. Social media platforms have become the antithesis of this aim, with algorithms designed to keep people scrolling and stop them from switching off and relaxing.” The company said it will not become “completely anti-social” as it can still be found on Twitter and YouTube. In the Philippines, Lush is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., with shops at Alabang Town Center, Bonifacio High Street, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Robinsons Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Mall of Asia, and TriNoma. Available also in Zalora and Trunc.com.

LA-based Pinay unveils soy wax candle brand

LOS ANGELES-based Filipino entrepreneur Joyce Jamlang-Tiongson has harnessed the power of scents in Ryliv Home, her recently launched brand which offers hand-poured soy wax candles with the aroma of essential oils. At the onset of the pandemic, Ms. Jamlang-Tiongson belonged to a corporation which was forced to close its doors. Now home-bound, she turned to scented candles and diffusers to ease the stress brought about by the sudden unexpected situation. This inspired her to venture into this endeavor. Armed with an Export Management Degree from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and her 11 years of extended overseas experience as a sales manager, she conducted extensive research and experimented until she perfected her first batch of homemade candles. Thus in early 2021, Ryliv Home, named after her son Ryder and her daughter Olivia, started operations. The initial series offered four sizes and over 10 scents, headlined by the bestselling Eucalyptus, French Lavender, Gardenia, Plumeria and Black Oud. The selections likewise include Sweet Pea, Citrus Flower, Coconut, Apple Cinnamon, Cashmere and Vanilla, Rosewater and Chamomile, Sandalwood and Pumpkin Spice. Now, Ms. Jamlang-Tiongson has released her first Christmas collection, which comes in the scents of Winter Forest and Pine Mist. Currently, she is gearing up to open a physical boutique for home fragrance and goods in the US. For more information, visit Ryliv Home on https://www.instagram.com/rylivhome/ or https://rylivhome.com/.

Economic reopening, holiday spending boost SM Prime shares

November 29, 2021 | 12:01 am

By Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte, Reporter

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. was one of the most actively traded stocks last week, as investor sentiment was boosted by the country’s gradual economic reopening amid the upcoming holiday season.

Data from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed a total of 51,411,300 SM Prime shares worth P1.68 billion were traded from Nov. 22 to 26, making it the fifth most actively traded in the stock market last week.

SM Prime shares closed at P36.60 per share on Friday, up by 1.8% from a week ago.

Year to date, however, the stock’s price declined 4.94%.

“The stock may have been affected positively by the optimistic sentiment brought by the decline in new COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases in the country, which points to a more probable economic reopening in the coming weeks,” Timson Securities, Inc. Trader Darren Blaine T. Pangan said in a Viber message on Friday.

“This may benefit the company’s residential and mall businesses, and the whole economy in general,” he added.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said investors might be optimistic on the issue as the gradual reopening of the economy fell at the start of Christmas holiday season, “which accounts for a significant share of sales for many businesses and industries.”

“Senior citizens and children were finally allowed to go out of their houses after more than one and a half years, thereby also boosting foot traffic for malls and other retailers closer to pre-pandemic levels and in time for the peak season for sales during the Christmas holiday season,” Mr. Ricafort said in a separate Viber message on Friday.

The Health department on Saturday logged 899 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the country’s active cases to 17,052. The country’s total cases stood at 1.83 million.

Metro Manila will be under Alert Level 2 until end-November. Meanwhile, the Philippines has declared Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1 as national COVID-19 vaccination days, targeting to have at least 15 million Filipinos vaccinated.

“However, offsetting risk factors include the surge in new COVID cases in some European countries especially new record daily cases recently in Germany as well as some concerns over the new coronavirus detected in South Africa (B.1.1529) that led to some travel restrictions in some parts of the world,” Mr. Ricafort said.

The government has also implemented a travel ban until Dec. 15 against South Africa, where the new COVID-19 variant Omicron was first detected, along with other countries.

On the other hand, Swedish furniture store Ikea finally opened its doors in Manila last week, Thursday.

“The recent opening of Ikea’s biggest store in the world here in the country also bode well for mall and retail businesses in the coming months or years as the economy moves closer to greater normalcy as new COVID-19 cases eased to the lowest levels since late last year amid increased vaccination program to expedite the achievement of population protection and eventually herd immunity,” Mr. Ricafort said.

The store is located on a property leased by SM Prime’s Mall of Asia spanning 68,000 square meters (sq.m.) — making it the world’s biggest Ikea outlet. The store has a 15,000-sq.m. showroom and market hall and 16,000 sq.m. of warehouse space.

Last week, the company also launched SM City Grand Central in Caloocan, which added over 116,000 sq.m. of gross floor area to its mall portfolio.

SM Prime’s trading session last week started with the stock declining by 0.14% from its Nov. 19 close, before climbing 2.47% and 1.76%, respectively, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Investors pocketed gains from the stock as its share price went down 1.2% and 1.21% on Thursday and Friday.

According to its latest earnings report, SM Prime’s net attributable income inched up 1.05% in the July-to-September period to P3.98 billion from P3.94 billion in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, its net attributable income for the nine-month period rose 9% to P15.62 billion from P14.37 billion a year ago.

RCBC’s Mr. Ricafort placed SM Prime’s stock price resistance at the P38 to P40 range, while P35 was considered its immediate support.

Meanwhile, Timson Securities’ Mr. Pangan pegged the stock’s major support area at P32.50, with P40.40 as its nearest resistance level.

“The stock seems to have been trading between this huge range area for almost the whole year, and a break of either the support and resistance areas may be considered a significant move for this issue,” Mr. Pangan said.