Jollibee launches Family Thanksgiving Month

May 6, 2021 | 12:03 am

FAMILY sits front and center in fast food giant Jollibee’s latest campaign called “Family Thanksgiving Month” (to be held annually henceforth every May). This was launched via a press conference on both Zoom and Facebook Live last week featuring media personalities Edric and Joy Mendoza. Still, the star of the show was the star of yet another Jollibee commercial, actress Anne Curtis.

“For us at Jollibee, this [pandemic] brought about a very powerful truth: all of us are spending more time with our families, and it has never happened before, and might never happen again,” said Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) Philippines Country/Regional Marketing Head and Jollibee Philippines Marketing Head Francis Flores about the impetus of the campaign.

A Jollibee representative told BusinessWorld via Zoom that Family Thanksgiving Month has no new promos or new products.

“Jollibee has been an advocate of Filipino family joy and togetherness,” said Mr. Flores during the press conference. To drive the point home, he mentioned what one of their jingles already said: “Dito sa Jollibee, pamilya lahat tayo (Here at Jollibee, we’re all family).” “Our families have been our greatest source of hope, strength, and joy,” he said. To be fair, prior to Jollibee’s expansion into a veritable empire with holdings across the globe (JFC acquired US chain The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in 2019; and has many other brands both here and abroad), it did start out as a family operation, founded by Tony Tan Caktiong in the 1970s.

Ms. Curtis — who married restaurateur and media personality Erwan Heussaff in 2017 — said that her stint as an ambassador for Jollibee began around the time of her engagement with her now-husband (2016). “[For] this journey of my own family, Jollibee has been there from the very start,” said Ms. Curtis. She had given birth to a daughter, Dahlia, last year. “Being a wife, and now a mother; it’s really turning out to be the most beautiful journey,” she said. During the Zoom conference, Ms. Curtis was shown videos of her family greeting her.

Through Family Thanksgiving Month, “We hope to start a new tradition of gratitude for our loved ones and everyone who we treat as family,” said Mr. Flores. — JLG

Nat Re net income drops 24% in 2020

May 6, 2021 | 12:02 am

THE National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (Nat Re) booked a net profit of P120 million last year, down by 24% year on year after low investment income offset its high earnings from underwriting.

Nat Re, the country’s national reinsurer, told the local bourse on Wednesday that its net income fell from P157 million in 2019.

It attributed the decline in its profit to “stronger underwriting results weighed down by lower investment income.”

Nat Re reported net underwriting profit prior to administration expenses of P341.7 million, up 151% from P136.4 million in 2019, due to the increase in reinsurance premium income and reduced loss ratios.

Its gross written premiums inched up by three percent to P4.47 billion last year from P4.34 billion in 2019, driven by higher reinsurance premiums from the life and non-life domestic segments.

It reported P387 million in overall comprehensive income.

Meanwhile, its investment income went down by P200 million in 2020 from a year ago amid the pandemic. Its total investments and other income also fell 62% to P132 billion last year from P349 billion in 2019.

“While Nat Re’s financial performance in 2020 reflected financial market volatility caused by COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) especially in the first half of the year, the company ensured operational resilience to continue delivering reinsurance-related services and serve its customers efficiently,” Nat Re President and CEO Allan R. Santos said.

Nat Re’s combined ratio, which is the sum of loss, commission, and expense ratios used to measure the profitability of the insurance business improved to 98% last year from 104% in 2019.

It said ratios below 100% mean a company is making an underwriting profit, while those above the threshold shows the firm is spending more on payouts and expenses versus the premiums it earns. — BML

Pandemic opens more hometown ventures for developer Ingenuity

May 6, 2021 | 12:02 am

A MORE than 10-year-old Davao City-based software firm that has worked with big technology names such as Google, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Oracle, has recently been devoting extra time in hometown ventures to help small businesses and the local government pull through the pandemic.

“Many of us are trying to learn new skills to reenter the workplace after the crisis and a large number of businesses are also trying to reinvent themselves to stay afloat and survive,” John Naranjo, founder and chief executive officer of Ingenuity Software, Inc., said during an online forum hosted by the Davao City business chamber.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), he said, are particularly vulnerable to the challenges given resource limitations.

The homegrown company is in discussions with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry for programs to continue helping SMEs.

Ingenuity Software has also partnered with the local government for the development of the SafeDavao QR code, the city’s official contact tracing system. — Marifi S. Jara

Proceeds from AC Energy’s follow-on offering to fund RE projects

May 6, 2021 | 12:02 am

AYALA-LED AC Energy Corp. said on Wednesday that it plans to use the proceeds from its follow-on offering to partly fund its upcoming renewable energy (RE) projects.

In a press release, it said that aside from the pipeline RE projects, the net proceeds from the sale of primary shares will go to inorganic growth opportunities, repayment of loans and reduction of payables, and other general corporate requirements.

“The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of secondary shares by the selling shareholders,” it said.

AC Energy priced its offer at P6.50 per share, which it said was determined by a book building process that “saw significant participation from leading global long-term institutional investors.”

The fund-raising’s retail offering period began on May 3 and will end on May 7. The shares are set to be listed on May 14.

The firm is offering up to 2.01 billion common shares, consisting of 1.58 billion primary shares; 330.24 million secondary shares, which will be offered by selling shareholders AC Energy and Infrastructure Corp. (ACEIC) and Bulacan Power Generation Corp.; and up to 100 million secondary shares as an oversubscription option.

AC Energy President and Chief Executive Officer John Eric T. Francia said the follow-on offering “completes the company’s successful fund-raising efforts this year and allows it to play a meaningful role in the green led recovery.”

“We are grateful for the continued support of our regulators and for the overwhelming response we received from the institutional investors during the book building process. The exceptional investor support reinforces AC Energy’s position as the region’s leading renewables platform,” he added.

AC Energy aspires to become the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia as it hopes to reach a target net attributable capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2025.

Shares in AC Energy at the local bourse shed 1.02% or 7 centavos to close at P6.82 apiece. — Angelica Y. Yang

Beat the Heat: Keep pets safe from overheating this summer

May 6, 2021 | 12:02 am

AS SUMMER deepens and temperatures continue to rise — the Metro’s temperature spiked to 35.2C on May 4, according to the weather bureau, with a heat index of a truly wilting 39C — people are not the only ones who suffer. Pet owners are now tasked to tap into their creative side and come up with different ways to help them and their pets beat the heat and avoid heat exhaustion over the next two months.

Dogs or cats who suffer from overheating will exhibit excessive panting or difficulty breathing. Dehydration can be found through symptoms such as a dry nose, visible tiredness, and sunken eyes. Additional symptoms also include pale gums, panting, bright red, gray, purple, or bluish gums, and a rapid pulse. If left untreated, pets can experience organ failure, which can be fatal. Pet owners should contact their veterinarian right away if their dog or cat exhibits any of these symptoms.

Committed to educating the Filipino pet community on proper pet care, the Pet Food Institute (PFI) shares tips on how pet owners can protect their pets from overheating.

1. Cool Your Pet Inside and Out

Pet owners must remember that pets sweat differently than humans. Dogs and cats both sweat through their paws, and may pant or self-groom to help bring down their body heat. When the temperature rises, pet owners are encouraged to bring their pets in a well-ventilated indoor area where the air can freely circulate.

Another way for pet owners to help bring down their pets’ body temperature is to wrap a wet towel around their pet, or enjoy time in a colder body of water, such as a pool or cool bath.

2. Limit Exercise on Hot Days

Pets require regular exercise regardless of the season. During the summer, owners can design and come up with fun ways to exercise their pets without exposing their four-legged companions to too much heat.

Owners must take note that if the floor is too hot for them to touch, then it is hotter on the pets’ paws, therefore they have to adjust the intensity and duration of their walks to ensure their pets’ overall wellbeing.

On very hot days, pet owners should consider walking their dogs very early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperature is much lower. Dog owners may also opt to have their pets play on the grass instead of the hot asphalt so their dogs’ soft and sensitive paws are safe from the heat.

While exercising or playing with their pets, owners must never forget to provide enough fresh water for their pets.

3. Provide Ample Water

Pets can get dehydrated quickly, especially during summer. Therefore, owners must give them plenty of fresh, cool, and clean water to help quench their thirst. Having a bottle of cold water, as well as a clean pet bowl, is recommended to prevent pets from drinking dirty water from pools or standing water when they’re outside the house. Several products are now commercially available to help owners and their pets stay cool during the summer.

Pet owners should always keep an eye for signs of overheating. If their pets are unresponsive, or showing signs such as wheezing, disorientation, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, or even collapse, pet owners must immediately contact and bring their dogs or cats to the nearest vet and seek the proper treatment.

D&L Industries’ income grows 35% as business segments recover

May 6, 2021 | 12:01 am

LISTED manufacturing firm D&L Industries, Inc. saw its first-quarter net income rise by 35% to P695 million year on year as the profitability of its business units recovered.

In a press release on Wednesday, the manufacturer of food ingredients, specialty plastics and chemicals said that its net income for the three months ending March was 9% higher quarter on quarter.

All of its business segments posted “significant recoveries” in their net income, with food ingredients improving by 37% to P219 million, chemicals increasing by 17% to P207 million, and specialty plastics growing by 27% to P181 million on a year-on-year basis.

“The recovery was mainly driven by people and businesses gradually adapting to the new normal. With more than a year into the pandemic, D&L, as well as many of its customers, has found new ways to continuously operate despite various mobility restrictions,” the firm said.

It said companies engaged in the food ingredients sector are now better prepared to serve customers by providing them with take-out and delivery options.

The firm added that its bottom line for the quarter was boosted by P32 million because of the lower income taxes under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.

The CREATE law lowers the corporate income tax (CIT) rate for local companies to 25% of their taxable income from July 1 onwards. The CIT of companies that hold assets not exceeding P100 million and taxable income not exceeding P5 million is lowered to 20% of their taxable income.

“Compared to pre-pandemic levels, 1Q21 (first quarter 2021) income seems to be tracking ahead of FY19 (fiscal year 2019) income but still slightly behind FY18 income,” D&L noted.

The company does not expect the extension of the second strictest lockdown level in the capital region and nearby areas to be “as damaging as last year” since it is less restrictive this time around.

“Assuming that 1Q21 income holds steady in the next couple of quarters, the company is set to at least reach its net income level in 2019,” D&L said.

On Wednesday, the company also said that it had so far spent P4.5 billion for its Batangas facility that will serve its growing exports in the food and oleochemicals segments. It plans to spend the remaining P3.5 billion of its capital expenditure budget until early 2022.

The project is aimed at boosting D&L’s capacity to manufacture downstream packaging, and help it capture a bigger part of the production chain.

Two months ago, the company said that its board of directors had greenlit a plan to offer peso-denominated fixed-rate bonds of up to P5 billion to finance its expansion project in Batangas.

Shares in D&L at the stock exchange closed at P7.66 each on Wednesday, up by 28 centavos or 3.79% from the last session. — Angelica Y. Yang

Monitoring work-from-home workers via webcams not feasible, Lenovo says

May 6, 2021 | 12:01 am

MONITORING work-from-home employees through their web cameras is not a good idea as it is difficult to impose, according to Lenovo Philippines, noting that there are alternative tools that companies can use to track productivity.

“No, [it’s not a good idea] definitely… Parang ang hirap namang mag-impose (it seems hard to impose) that they should open their camera, right?” Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager Michael Ngan said at an online press briefing on Tuesday.

“Maybe, the manager or the direct supervisor can impose that… It depends on the company. But that’s one area that’s very hard to really impose in a work-from-home scenario,” he added.

He also noted that monitoring productivity has become a challenge for many companies during the pandemic crisis. “When they adopt the work-from-home or work-from-anywhere setup, the biggest challenge is really productivity.”

“Definitely, it’s expected that productivity will drop. But there are tools that are able to track employee productivity while working from home or while working anywhere,” Mr. Ngan explained.

“There is a software that is able to really monitor and capture how many times you opened your e-mail, how many times you spoke to your customers over VoIP (voice over internet protocol), and a lot more,” he added.

In its recent study on the future of work and digital transformation, Lenovo found that 83% of information technology decision makers surveyed globally expect post-pandemic work to be remote “for at least half the time.”

“Companies are now deviating from the standard business arrangement as technology empowers them to modify structures as necessary,” Lenovo said in an e-mailed statement.

“A hybrid work arrangement is likely to be a trend, where employers will allow workers to come to the office two to three days per week in a five-day work week,” it added. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Dining In/Out (05/06/21)

May 6, 2021 | 12:01 am

Mother's-Day-Diamond-Cake — *Mother’s Day Diamond Cake*

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The Pen helps celebrate Mother’s Day at home

Every mother deserves to have a Peninsula experience on her big day — and every day — that’s why The Peninsula Manila wants to celebrate moms the whole month of May with menus created especially for her by its chefs to enjoy while safely ensconced at home. The hotel suggests making Mother’s Day at home a celebration with a beautiful Peninsula Cakeaway Afternoon Tea Set, extravagant Mother’s Day Family Platters, and finish on a sweet note with delicious pastries, cakes, and confections. First there is the Mother’s Day Cakeaway Afternoon Tea Set, served in a vintage-patterned three-tier Afternoon Tea Set Box for three persons (P3,490). The afternoon tea treats include sandwiches like Herbed cream cheese and cucumber, Devilled egg, and Turkey ham with cheese and lettuce; a Spinach, sun-dried tomato and roasted capsicum quiche; a raisin scone, lemon curd, strawberry jam, clotted cream, raspberry eclair, and calamansi macaron, among other items. Then there is the “Mom is Queen on Mother’s Day” Menu which serves a minimum of three persons. The main courses are Herb Crusted Australian Lamb Rack (P2,490), US Beef Wellington (P2,490), Norwegian Salmon Wellington (P1,990), Cebu Pork Belly Lechon (P1,990), and Whole Roasted Corn-fed Chicken (P990). The dishes come with a choice of two side dishes and one sauce. The side dish choices are Cauliflower and broccoli gratin, Black truffled mash potato, Chorizo mac & cheese, Buttered seasonal vegetables, and Bagoong and shrimp fried rice; while the sauce choices are red wine sauce, lemon butter crème sauce, mushroom gravy, liver sauce, and rosemary lamb jus. The whole family can enjoy the Mother’s Day Family Platters (serves a minimum of four persons) which include Pancit luglug (P1,990), Pancit canton (P1,990), Oven-baked lasagna (P2,490), Beef short ribs kare-kare (P2,490), and Bistek Tagalog made with US Angus beef (P2,490). For the mom with a sweet tooth, there are bakery items like Ube or Cheese ensaymada, Leche Flan doughnut, Caramelized crunchy brioche, Penstones, and Fresh strawberry and vanilla custard croissant. The hotel also offers a Special Mother’s Day Cake (serves eight persons): Raspberry chocolate mousse with moist chocolate sponge (P1,250). There are also Peninsula Dessert Tubs (P400, serves two persons) of Tiramisu, Banana Cream Pie, Tres Leches, and Grandma Chocolate Mousse; whole cakes (P1,500 for an eight person cake, P750 for a cake that serves four persons), namely Dulce De Leche and Churros Cheesecake, Fresh Strawberry n’ Cream Cake, Ube Leche Flan Cake, and Decadent Chocolate Cake; and boxes of macarons (P750 for six, P1,500 for 12). For inquiries and orders, call 8887-2888, send an e-mail to penboutiquepmn@peninsula.com or online at https://bit.ly/PenChatFacebook.

Mother’s Day Specials at Diamond’s online shopping site

DIAMOND Hotel Philippines just added new culinary selections to its online shopping site onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com to turn mundane home meals into hotel-at-home feasts. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, give mom’s a treat by ordering the Coconut, Raspberry Confit, and Matcha with Crispy Praline Crunch Entremet Cake, or a Mother’s Day Grazing Box (which includes chocolate covered strawberries, French macarons, meringues, soft eclairs, and more), or any of the four special Chinese Luxury Set Platters. The online shopping site has plenty of other choices like the Diamond Hotel’s noodle platters — Seafood Bihon Guisado, Seafood Pancit Palabok, and Seafood Sotanghon Guisado. For lunch and snacks there are the Sandwich Grazing Boxes (serving two to four persons), with four to choose from. There are also Tea Time Boxes in three kinds — Continental, Filipino and Chinese, great for themed Zoom events and meetings. When planning the weekly meals and running out of ideas, order the Smoked Salmon Baked Sushi and Bacon & Cheese Baked Sushi, or the Boodle Platter which is an all-time Filipino favorite. If it is a complete platter in one that you seek, the Bento Sets are available. For self-care, try the Vanilla Bomboloni, the hotel’s version of the Italian treat, or the Burnt Basque Diamond Cheesecake to share. For details visit onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com or e-mail restaurant_rsvn@diamondhotel.com. Lead time for orders on the online shopping site are mostly one day prior to the date of delivery except for Chinese Platters and Clams Selection which require two days. Payments may be made via credit card, PayPal, or online bank transfers (for Metrobank only). Orders must be picked up at the Main Entrance of Diamond Hotel Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, cor. Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jasmine reopens for Mother’s Day weekend

THE NEW World Makati Hotel is reopening Jasmine restaurant for its all-you-can-eat signature dim sum, barbecued dishes, desserts and more during Mother’s Day weekend, May 8 and 9. The venue will be accepting guests for lunch and dinner on May 8 and lunch on May 9 for the Yum Cha offer. Takeout, pick-up and delivery services continue to be available daily for those who prefer to dine at home. Guests can try new additions to the menu such as Minced chicken and truffle mushroom dumpling and Pork bean curd with red berry, along with favorites such as barbecued Honey roasted pork, steamed Har gao shrimp dumplings, Xiao long bao Shanghainese pork dumplings, Shao mai pork and crab meat dumplings, and Barbecued pork buns, as well as Seafood taro puffs, Barbecued pork puffs, and much more. Some of the restaurant’s best-selling main courses are also included in the offer, such as the Deep-fried sole fillet with salted egg, Wok-fried Kong Pao chicken and cashew nuts, Sweet and sour pork, and Braised bean curd with black mushrooms. A selection of rice, noodle, and congee dishes are likewise available. Guests can opt to add more of Jasmine’s signature dishes to complete the meal. Dishes such as the famous Crispy pork belly (P240), Soy chicken (P240) and Pan-fried beef tenderloin (P280) are offered at an add-on price. All moms who dine on May 9 get a complimentary bath set gift. Jasmine’s Yum Cha is priced at P1,288 for Mother’s Day on Sunday. On May 8 and the succeeding weekends (except holidays), the rate is P1,088. All prices are nett. Jasmine’s premium dim sum may likewise be enjoyed in the comfort of home via takeout, pick up, or third-party delivery service. Two special Mother’s Day set menus are ideal for groups of four. Set menus 1 and 2 are priced at P6,988 and P7,988, respectively. An a la carte selection of their dim sum, soup, barbecued items, dessert, and more are available to order daily for lunch or dinner. A minimum spend of P5,000 or more for takeout, pick-up and delivery also comes a free bath set gift. For table reservations or orders, guests can call +632 8811-6888, send a message on Viber at 0917-888-4194 or e-mail fbreservations.manila@newworldhotels.com.

Sofitel Manila opens cloud kitchen just in time for Mother’s Day

SOFITEL Philippine Plaza Manila presents its first cloud kitchen — named Easy Peasy — just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day. Easy Peasy features favorites, beloved classics, and new specialties delivered straight to one’s doorstep. With just a few taps of the finger, get a taste of treats such as Sofitel’s signature chocolate chip cookies, French croissant, pain au chocolat, a pizza and pasta menu, Singapore’s popular Hainanese chicken, savory and spicy Thaired beef curry, Tex-Mex staple slow-cooked steak fajitas, and prime US-grade Rib Eye steak, just to name a few. Easy Peasy’s menu is available daily, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and may be ordered directly through Facebook, by phone, or e-mail, as well as through major food delivery platforms Grab, Foodpanda, and Pickaroo. For inquiries and direct orders, send a message through the Easy Peasy Manila Facebook page or call 8832-6988 or e-mail H6308-FB12@sofitel.com. FollowEasy Peasy Manila on Facebook and Instagram for more updates and fresh promotions.

Gourmet Everyday with Grand Hyatt Manila

GRAND Hyatt Manila invites everyone to #DineAtHome and savor the cuisines from The Grand Kitchen, No. 8 China House, and Florentine. The 5-star hotel’s teams of chefs and F&B professionals are working on menus for family dinners, birthdays, corporate meetings, virtual events, coffee breaks, or to simply satisfy sweet cravings. There are feasts for six featuring vegan, Western, and Chinese dishes. Patrons can choose from a variety of set meals, which include appetizers and main course platters. There are also ala carte options for big groups: curated 14 set menus that are perfect for corporate meetings and virtual events. Each set is complete with an appetizer, main course, dessert, and soda for beverage. The selection features a variety of cuisines including Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Italian, American, Indonesian, and German dishes. Each diner can choose their preferred meal set. Grand Hyatt Manila offers three sets of snacks: sausage rolls, quiche lorraines, and empanadas matched with salads and a fruit cup or yogurt. For those with a sweet tooth, The Florentine offers seven sweet treats: a Whole Vegan Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Mocha, Strawberry Cheesecake, Hazelnut Profiterole, Honey Dulce De Leche, Strawberry-Raspberry Shortcake, and the Signature Almond Florentine. Delivery is free for offices and clients within Bonifacio Global City (BGC). Deliveries to cities outside of BGC can be arranged by the customer using their preferred courier service. Curb-side pick-up is also available at the main driveway of the hotel from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For general inquiries, contact Grand Hyatt Manila via e-mail at manila.grand@hyatt.com or call 8838-1234. For corporate clients and concerns, email mangh-events@hyatt.com.

Tapenade’s Spanish feast for Mother’s Day

DISCOVERY Primea prepares a festive Mother’s Day spread for families to enjoy at home. Offered throughout Mother’s Day weekend, the Spanish Feast at-home meal kit features a selection of tapas, main dishes, and sweet endings. Included in the selection are Croquetas de pollo y trufa with aioli dip, Tortilla de patatas with chorizo, onion, and parsley, plus Gambas al ajillo with garlic, EVOO, and a baguette. A serving of ensalada campera with seared tuna, mixed greens, olives, radish, cherry tomatoes and egg is a refreshing addition to the meal. The highlight of the spread are two Spanish dishes prepared by Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco. Offered only during Mother’s Day weekend, the paella de mar y montaña treats diners to the rich aromas and tastes of chicken, chorizo, shrimp, squid, green beans, and mushroom. The Pescado al horno is a seafood specialty, with oven-baked black bass, chickpeas, and romesco. For dessert, families can share the Crema catalana flan. A bottle of Prosecco or non-alcoholic sparkling wine accompanies the spread. The at-home meal kit also includes a complimentary box of Madelenas de Chocolate. Good for three to four persons, the Mother’s Day Spanish Feast is offered at P4,500 nett, and is available for direct takeout or delivery through the customers’ preferred courier service from May 7 to 9. The hotel recommends placing orders and payments in advance, at least 24 hours prior the desired pick up or delivery date. The at-home meal kit comes with reheating instructions to guide diners on how to properly warm up their meal at home. For details visit https://www.discoveryprimea.com/mothers-day-2021/. For orders and inquiries, customers may call 7955-8888 or e-mail primea.restaurants@discovery.com.ph.

Crimson celebrates Mother’s Day with treats and gifts

CRIMSON Hotel Filinvest City, Manila has whipped up special offers and food takeaways for the most important women in our lives. Café Eight makes dining at home more exciting with “Thai’s the Limit” — a flavor-packed lunch or dinner takeaway that the whole family can savor. Complete from appetizer to dessert, this Thai-inspired feast — Thai Shrimp Cake, Pomelo Salad, Thai Grilled Chicken, Pad Thai, and Sticky Mango Rice — is good for four people and served in a self-heating portable hotbox for P1,500 net. For the whole month of May, Firehouse Pizza offers a pizza date at home with a selection of one signature pizza, one pizza of the month, eight pieces of Parmesan fried chicken wings with garlic aioli, one pan of Bolognese with your choice of pasta, and six orders New York cheesecake, all for P2,000 net. The hotel’s soon-to-open patisserie and boulangerie, Baker J, has a Mother’s Day treat too: Breakfast in Bed Surprise which features buttery pastries such as Pain au Chocolat, Cashew Praliné, Raspberry croissant, Tigré, Financier, Madeleine, Canelé, Douceur mango paired with homemade pineapple jam. Cap the celebration off on a sweet note with Cakes as Sweet as Mom — Baker J’s Choco Royale, Dulce de Leche Cheesecake, Red Pearl, and Mango Graham cakes for 25% off. Moms will receive a free Rustan’s Gouache canvas pouch bag with a minimum purchase worth P1,500. For details, visit www.crimsonhotelfilinvestcity.com, call 0998-961-3409, or e-mail dining@crimsonhotel.com.

Ortigas Malls host Bagsakan fresh food markets

THROUGH a team up with Mayani, the Philippines’ fastest-growing farm-to-table platform, Ortigas Malls brings The Grand Bagsakan to Greenhills in San Juan, and to Tiendesitas and Estancia in Pasig where community members can get some of the best and freshest products straight from local farmers. Commencing this May, consumers will enjoy products like vegetables, cheese and dairy, meat products, and homemade food products straight from farms and cooperatives. This initiative enables Ortigas Malls to co-create a chain of positive impact by granting customers access to quality goods while giving hardworking farmers better earning opportunities. Consumers can now place orders — the cutoff will be on May 12 at noon. The Grand Bagsakan event starts on May 14, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and its drive-by stations will be in strategic locations around the malls. This initiative will run once a month until the end of the year — on June 25, July 23, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 26, and Dec. 23. Order now through http://cutt.ly/BAGSAKAN. Meanwhile, enjoy outdoor dining and everything it has to offer at Ortigas Malls, which have opened up al fresco dining areas. Visit Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria now and enjoy a memorable al fresco dining experience.

Kenny Rogers brings back Garlic-Butter Roast chicken

KENNY Rogers Roaster’s Garlic Butter Roast chicken is making a comeback. The flavorful rotisserie-roasted chicken is back with its garlic-infused, creamy buttery sauce. The Garlic Butter Roast comes in two meal selections: Solo Plate B comes with a quarter garlic butter chicken, two side dishes, rice, and Kenny Rogers’ homemade muffin for P305; and the Garlic Butter Group Meal which has a whole garlic butter chicken, four side dishes, four rice and homemade muffins, and a 1.5 liter of Pepsi for P1,060. Every garlic butter chicken is served with garlic butter sauce and peppered garlic-potato garnish. Kenny Rogers Roasters has also added two new side dishes: Orzo Salad with rice-shaped orzo pasta mixed with tomatoes and a sweet tangy dressing, and a Cauliflower Gratin complete with baked cauliflower with white sauce topped with melted cheese. Kenny Rogers Roasters’ Garlic Butter Chicken is available for a limited time only. Order via kennyrogersdelivery.com.ph or call the hotline at 8-555-9000. It can also be ordered via GrabFood and Food Panda.

More McDonald’s offer outdoor dining, Bike & Dine options

SINCE last year, McDonald’s has begun investing in creating more outdoor dining spaces by setting up tables and chairs outside for customers to have more options where they can enjoy their favorite meals. This is in addition to improving existing outdoor dining facilities already integrated in the store design. Under the M Safe program, stringent health and safety protocols are in place to assure that diners can enjoy their food while assured of a high standard of safety. Customers who will visit the stores will be subjected to contact-tracing and temperature checks, and are required to wear face masks and shields. Social distancing will be followed at all times from queueing for their orders and while dining in. Cashless payment options are also available in stores to minimize physical contact. Another outdoor dining innovation is McDonald’s Bike & Dine wherein cyclists have a dining space after they have “Ride Thru” or ordering through the Drive Thru lane. With Bike & Dine, cyclists can mount their bike securely in racks that are attached to a ledge which doubles as a table. Through this, bike-riding customers can enjoy their meals without worrying about the safety of their bicycles. Cyclists can already enjoy this in the Vermosa and McKinley West branches, and soon, in more stores nationwide. To check which McDonald’s stores offer outdoor dining options, visit the McDonald’s website at https://mcdonalds.com.ph/store-locator and click the “Outdoor” option. Customers may also use the same website to be updated on the daily operations of stores, and check if the branches offer Take-Out, Drive-Thru and McDelivery.

Summer Shack Mother’s Day promo

FOR the summer, Shake Shack offers an Order ahead, Skip the booking promo — for a minimum spend of P2,500, the diner can skip booking a rider and the delivery fees when they order two days (or more) ahead. Just call a Shack outlet, choose a time slot range between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 4 to 6 p.m. and settle the payment. Together with SpeedFood, Shake Shack will take care of the delivery, fuss free. The promo runs for a limited time only. Planning a Mother’s Day lunch or dinner? From May 7 to 9, buy P2,500 of Shake Shack products and get a Shack White wine. Available only to cities without an imposed liquor ban (check with your local government if your area is covered by the liquor ban policy before ordering). Finding it tricky to plan a safe get together? Pay tribute to mom through social media. Post a photo of you and your mom two-gether on your Instagram feed and let everyone know in the caption what fine (or funny) traits you got from her. Tag @shakeshackph and use the hashtag #gotitfromher. Five winners will get Shack gift cards worth P1,000 each. Giveaway runs from May 5 to 8. Winners will be posted on Shack’s official Instagram account @shakeshackph on May 9.

Make cakes in 2 minutes with MAYA Happy Mugs

FOR a quick pick-me-up, try the MAYA Happy Mug — just add water then pop it in the microwave oven for two minutes. Available in chocolate and caramel flavors, these convenient special mug cakes come in ready-to-mix single servings and come with their own syrup packets. While good all on its own, MAYA Happy Mug can also be a great base for other sweet creations. For instance, add in apple pie filling and whipped cream to the chocolate mug cake mix to have some Chocolate Apple Pie Mugcake. Just pour half of the chocolate cake mixture into the mug cake packaging cup and fill the center with a tablespoon of apple pie filling. Add the remaining mug cake mixture. Pop it in the microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds without the cover or lid. Let it cool for a few minutes before topping it with whipped cream and more apple pie filling right before serving. Follow and like Maya Hotcakes and More on Facebook, and @MayaHotcakesandMore on Instagram and Twitter.

Headline inflation rates in the Philippines (April 2021)

May 6, 2021 | 12:00 am

INFLATION remained stable in April, while core inflation eased to a five-month low, leading economists to expect the central bank to keep rates on hold at next week’s policy-setting meeting. Read the full story.

How PSEi member stocks performed — May 5, 2021

May 6, 2021 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

PSEi hits 2021 low as inflation hurts sentiment

May 5, 2021 | 9:00 pm

THE main index hit a 2021 low on Wednesday as inflation data released earlier in the day showed consumer prices remained high, which affected market sentiment.

The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) declined by 59.46 points or 0.93% to close at 6,299.69 on Wednesday, while the all shares index dropped by 24.39 points or 0.62% to 3,882.43.

“The market plunged to its lowest level this year as inflation remained elevated in April,” AB Capital Securities, Inc. Junior Equity Analyst Lance U. Soledad said in a Viber message.

“This further adds to the negative sentiment this week, following the report of the first manufacturing contraction recorded this year, as well as poor [first-quarter] earnings performance…,” Mr. Soledad added.

Meanwhile, AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. Research Head Christopher John J. Mangun said the market is “slowly giving up all the gains from the last rally that started in October.”

“Inflation [data] for the month of April… should mean that prices are peaking and may begin to decline and should have generated some optimism, although most remain concerned as the price of meat continues to rise,” Mr. Mangun said. “Trading volumes also declined as more investors lost interest in the market.”

Headline inflation stood at 4.5% in April, unchanged from the previous month but faster than April 2020’s 2.2%, preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

Year to date, inflation averaged at 4.5%, still above the central bank’s 2-4% target and its forecast of 4.2% for the year.

“Vaccine rollout maintains at [a] slow pace with foreign investors continuing to sell while most investors remain at sidelines as manifested in the value turnover,” Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a text message.

Value turnover went down to P3.89 billion on Wednesday with 4.15 billion shares switching hands from the P4.63 billion with 3.19 issues traded on Tuesday. Meanwhile, net foreign selling increased to P653.37 million on Wednesday from P371.78 million on Tuesday.

Majority of sectoral indices closed in the red on Wednesday, except for mining and oil, which gained 119.76 points or 1.26% to finish at 9,573.66.

Holding firms went down by 83.10 points or 1.28% to 6,374.09; property dropped by 19.91 points or 0.65% to 3,029.91; services shed 8.89 points or 0.6% to end at 1,430.23; financials lost 7.40 points or 0.52% to 1,394.08; and industrials fell by 42.89 points or 0.49% to close at 8,556.60.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 114 against 92, while 43 names closed unchanged.

AB Capital Securities’ Mr. Soledad placed the PSEi’s support at 6,200.

“The steady decline in new COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases has failed to generate optimism as it may not lead to an easing of restrictions in the coming weeks,” AAA Southeast Equities’ Mr. Mangun said. — K.C.G. Valmonte

Peso continues to rally vs dollar on slower-than-expected inflation print

May 5, 2021 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO appreciated versus the greenback for the fifth straight day as inflation was steady in April and as the daily tally of coronavirus cases remained low.

The local unit closed at P48.025 per dollar on Wednesday, appreciating by 1.3 centavos from its P48.038 finish on Tuesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso’s close on Wednesday was its best since Feb. 15’s finish of P47.93 per dollar.

The local unit opened the session at P48.03 versus the dollar. Its weakest showing was at P48.13, while its intraday best was at P47.96 against the greenback.

Dollars traded jumped to $1.2 billion yesterday from $730.7 million on Tuesday.

The slower-than-expected April inflation print boosted market sentiment and supported the peso, a trader said in an e-mail.

Headline inflation stood at 4.5% for the second straight month in April, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday. However, this was faster than April 2020’s 2.2%.

April headline inflation was slower than the median 4.7% in an analyst poll BusinessWorld conducted late last week and settled within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) own 4.2-5% estimate.

Year to date, inflation averaged at 4.5%, still above the BSP’s 2-4% target as well as its inflation forecast of 4.2% for the year.

Inflation eased in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.8% in April from 5.8% in March; and alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 12% from 12.1%.

On the other hand, annual increases were noted in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (1.5% from 0.9%); furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (2.1% from 1.9%); health (3.1% from 2.9%); transport (17.9% from 13.8%); communication (0.3% from 0.2%); and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services (3.4% from 3.1%), PSA data showed.

The easing number of new coronavirus infections also boosted the peso versus the dollar, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

The Health department reported 5,685 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday to bring the total to more than 1.073 million. Meanwhile, active cases stood at 66,060.

For Thursday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P47.97 to P48.07 per dollar, while the trader expects the local unit to move within the P48 to P48.10 range.