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Huawei eyeing digitalization partnerships in the Philippines

By Brontë H. Lacsamana

SHENZHEN-BASED multinational company Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. is looking to contribute to digitalization efforts in the Philippines through local partnerships.

Jay Chen, vice-president of Huawei Asia Pacific, said at a round table at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on March 1 that the Philippines is “very dynamic” in its development of digital solutions.

“As per my understanding, in the last couple of years, the investments for the ICT (information and communications technology) industry in the Philippines are very huge, with very strong investments [compared to] many countries in the region,” he said.

He said Huawei has “a lot of potential for partnerships with [the] local industry” and will likely be able to “contribute something from our side.”

Last year, the company invested $100 million in technology startups in Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries including the Philippines, with the goal to build a sustainable start-up ecosystem in the region over the next three years.

It also invested $150 million in developing APAC’s ICT talent through its five-year program Seeds for the Future 2.0, which will benefit 3 million students in the region.

Huawei anticipates that ICT can help conserve ten times’ worth of the world’ energy while only consuming 2% of it, according to Michael MacDonald, chief digital officer and executive consultant of Huawei Asia Pacific.

“The good thing about this is that ICT can be used in interesting ways to help address the green elements of other industries,” he said at the round table.

Fifth-generation (5G), for example, consumes less energy than 4G and 3G, making a shift to the technology a good way to reduce overall carbon footprint.

“Once we have the connectivity, the cloud services, then we [can further improve] the green economy or green solutions,” Mr. Chen added.

SUPER DEVICE
One of Huawei’s initiatives to enhance connectivity is the new Super Device, an integrated software system unveiled at the Smart Office conference ahead of MWC. This ecosystem will enable PCs or laptops to seamlessly connect to a range of other devices like mobile phones, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and even a laser printer that are connected to a single Wi-Fi network.

“Seamless AI (artificial intelligence) life is Huawei Consumer Business’ next five to 10 years long-term strategy… Our target is to bring you boundless creation and seamless communication,” said Richard Yu, Huawei Consumer Business’ chief executive officer.

Along with this, seven new Huawei devices are now available in the Philippine market. These include MateBook X Pro and MateBook E laptops, the MateStation X desktop, MatePad and MatePad Paper tablets, laser printer PixLab X1, and the Sound Joy speaker.

With Super Device, all of these products would no longer have barriers to interconnection, improving productivity. Features include file access and transfers, use of phone apps via your Huawei laptop and faster pairing with peripherals.

Huawei plans to continue innovating in this space to make business “smarter,” Mr. Yu added.

AboitizPower gets SEC nod to issue P10-B retail bonds

ABOITIZ Power Corp. on Wednesday said it was allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue the third and final tranche of its P30-billion shelf-registered fixed-rate retail bonds.

“[The company] has received the Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale dated March 2, 2022 from the SEC,” AboitizPower said in a disclosure to the exchange.

The third tranche bonds will be offered on March 3 to 9 and will be issued on March 17. It has a principal amount of up to P7 billion and an oversubscription option of up to P3 billion.

The first tranche of the company’s shelf-registered bonds was completed on March 16, 2021 while the second one was done on Dec. 2, 2021. AboitizPower intends to list the third tranche with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

“Proceeds of the [bond offering] will be used for refinancing and/or future renewable projects,” the company earlier said.

AboitizPower targets a portfolio made up of 50% renewables and 50% thermal energy by 2030, through investing in more renewable energy projects in the country and abroad.

The energy firm appointed BDO Capital & Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., and First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. as its joint issue managers. They are also joint lead underwriters and joint bookrunners along with Security Bank Corp.

In January, the final tranche of the company received the highest credit rating with a stable outlook from the Philippine Rating Services Corp.

At the local bourse on Wednesday, AboitizPower shares went up 20 centavos or 0.56% to close at P35.65 apiece. — Marielle C. Lucenio

Dining In/Out (03/03/22)

Bites & Brews Cocktail Concoctions

Eastwood Café+Bar serves dine-in guests again

EASTWOOD Richmonde Hotel’s Café+Bar is back to serving dine-in guests, with three special offerings that celebrate good food at great value. Plus, options for indoor and al fresco dining, visitors can choose their kind of safe restaurant space. The daily breakfast buffet is back, being served from 6 to 10 a.m., at the discounted promotional rate of P500 nett per person. In the evenings there is Bites & Brews, which offers an assortment of bar chow at the self-serve stations, which can be paired with one’s brew of choice, be it coffee, beer, or cocktails. The bar chow includes South American fare like Peruvian Chicken and Birria Tacos, Neopolitan pizzas, grilled sandwiches, and DIY dessert pies like peach almond, apple, and tablea smores. Bites & Brews is available every Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m. Lastly, end the week with a Pinoy-themed buffet every Sunday. From lechon to sugba and sutukil — sugba (grill), tuwa (stew), and kilaw (raw seafood in vinegar) — the buffets are sure to can satisfy one’s yearning for comfort food at P825 net per adult and P450 net per child aged six to 12 years old, inclusive of iced tea. Toddlers five years old and below eat for free. The Sunday Buffet Fiesta is served every week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For inquiries and table reservations, call 8570-7777 or 0917-821-0333.

Richmonde Hotel Ortigas presents gastropub concept

AFTER a prolonged hiatus due to the pandemic, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas welcomes diners back to a new concept to re-introduce its after-office specials: the Richmonde Gastropub. It is serving an all-new menu of gourmet bar food including Queso Fundido, Shrimp Scampi, Pulled Pork Quesadilla, Bangers & Mustard Potatoes (choice of veal bratwurst or Hungarian sausage), and Blue Marlin Ceviche. Former best-sellers like Angus Burger, Beef Salpicao, and Gamberoni Pizza are also making a comeback to pair with wine, spirits, or a cocktail. The gastropub also serves its very own handcrafted caramel and butter beer (non-alcoholic). Featured cocktails include the Deconstructed Mimosa, Little Kiss Crusher, and the ever-popular Sangria. The Richmonde Gastropub serves unlimited wine pours for two hours straight for P800, and guests receive a free bottle of local beer for every four bottles ordered. Richmonde Gastropub opens daily from 4 to 10 p.m. on the 2nd floor of Richmonde Hotel Ortigas. For inquiries and table reservations, call 8638-7777 or 0917-534-4352 or e-mail richmondecafe@gmail.com.

Mimi & Bros cooks up a Lenten special

JUST in time for Lent, Mimi & Bros is offering its newest Big Fish Sandwich. The Big Fish Sandwich features a hefty fish filet, breaded and crisped, with the special house blend tartar sauce, in slightly toasted buttery brioche buns. Available for P275, the Big Fish Sandwich comes with a side of hand-cut fries. The Big Fish Sandwich can also be enjoyed with the barkada or with the family in the special Mimi & Bros’ Munch Box for P950. Mimi & Bros is at Crossroads, 32nd St, Bonifacio Global City. It is open for al fresco dining. For delivery, message Mimi & Bros on Messenger on m.me/mimiandbros, through Viber at +63 945 798 5176, or find Mimi & Bros in Grab, Foodpanda, Dingdong, and Pick.A.Roo.

Pizza Hut opens new Delco Store in Makati

PIZZA Hut customers in Makati City and nearby areas will have more options with the opening of a new Fast Casual DELCO branch along one of the City’s major thoroughfares. Customers can order for delivery or dine-in and take-out by visiting the store located at the ground floor of Panama Bldg., No. 117, Kalayaan Ave. in Brgy. Cembo. A Fast Casual DELCO branch is a Pizza Hut restaurant where customers can dine in or order for delivery or take-out. The newly opened store in Makati City marks Pizza Hut’s 56th DELCO unit nationwide. To view the full list of operational Pizza Hut branches nationwide (dine-in and DELCO branches), visit www.pizzahut.com.ph/store-list.

McDonald’s offers the Flavors of Asia

THE FLAVORS of Japan and Korea are back for a limited time at McDonald’s with the Flavors of Asia. It brings back fan favorite Japanese and Korean-inspired meals: the Ebi Burger, boasting of a tempura-coated shrimp patty paired with tangy Thousand Island sauce and lettuce, and the K-Chicken Burger, a crispy chicken filet with creamy cheddar cheese and served with kimchi and gochujang dressing. Both burgers come in black and white sesame seed buns.

Greenwich unveils new seafood offerings

GREENWICH is introducing two new savory seafood offerings to its menu, but for a limited time only. The Cajun Shrimp Overload Pizza and Creamy Shrimp Spaghetti are Greenwich’s own spin on its pizza and pasta favorites. The Cajun Shrimp Overload Pizza has a crust topped with cajun sauce and is loaded with seasoned shrimps, mushrooms, green bell peppers, sauteed onions, and three types of cheese. A nine-inch double-size pizza is priced at P319. The Creamy Shrimp Spaghetti has creamy aligue (crab fat)-flavored sauce with shrimps and mushrooms, and is topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. A solo serving is priced at P109, while a shareable pan good for three people is priced at P240. Greenwich’s newest pizza and pasta flavors are available on www.greenwichdelivery.com, via #5-55-55 hotline, Greenwich Barkada Messenger, GrabFood, Foodpanda, take-out, or for dine in. The list of Greenwich stores can be found here: https://stores.jfc.com.ph/greenwich.html.

Convenience store sells Suntory drinks

THIS YEAR, FamilyMart is leveling up the Filipino drinking experience with its extensive line of wines, spirits and beers which now includes Japanese alcohol brands and flavors. The store’s latest offering includes a line of drinks from Suntory, a popular brand of Japanese alcoholic beverages. This includes Strong Zero Beer, a Japanese chu-hi, which is a shochu — a traditional Japanese liquor made from barley or grains — mixed with carbonated water and different flavors. Also offered under the Suntory line is Haroyoi, a chu-hi beverage known for its sweet peach and pear flavors and vibrant colored cans. Meanwhile, Lemon-dou, another chu-hi drink from Japan, is also part of the lineup. This drink is made from crushed lemons and brewing with alcohol. The popular Japanese drinks and imported wine and spirit selections are now available in FamilyMart’s largest store located at the ground floor of Udenna Tower in Bonifacio Global City. The items are also available for purchase through the GrabMart app.

PBA all-out in backing Gilas Pilipinas schedule

PBA COMMISSIONER WILLIE MARCIAL — PBA IMAGES

ASIDE from manpower, Gilas Pilipinas seeks to get a lift from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in terms of schedule leeway as it gears up for a hectic calendar running up until its FIBA World Cup (WC) hosting in 2023.

Gilas team manager Butch Antonio said the team has laid out its full calendar to the PBA with hopes of meshing up with the league’s schedule before trooping to at least four major tournaments.

“The PBA is very much supportive of the program that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has put forth. We sort of synchronized schedules. We submitted a calendar of events and the PBA looked into it,” said Mr. Antonio in the SEAG Network after a meeting with the PBA.

“There will be more windows of the WC qualifiers, Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Asia Cup. Then the PBA will have their conferences and the EASL participation, so all of this have to come together perfectly so we can prepare for the World Cup,” he added.

Gilas has also submitted a wish list of 30 players bannered by majority of pro standouts for its expanded pool on top of the synchronized schedule proposal — all of which must gain nod from the PBA Board of Governors.

“That’s where we are with the PBA. All of this is towards the preparations to come up with the best team possible for the World Cup,” added Mr. Antonio, who was joined by Gilas mentor Chot Reyes in the PBA discussion.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, for his part, has told The STAR the league’s willingness to give an all-out backing to Gilas as he is set to bring up the SBP proposal before the PBA Board on March 7.

Gilas is coming off a split campaign in the February window of the WC Qualifiers against India and New Zealand. Its next stop will be in Hanoi for the 31st SEA Games (SEAG) in May before the next qualifying window in June, the Asia Cup in Indonesia in July and the Asian Games in China in September. — John Bryan Ulanday

SSS digital branches to help its pensioners use online platforms

SSS FACEBOOK PAGE

THE SOCIAL Security System (SSS) is rolling out digital branches to aid pensioners in using online portals and mobile applications.

The state-run social insurance agency launched its pilot digital branch in San Pedro, Laguna to offer multi-channel services to its members, employers, and pensioners.

The SSS branch in San Pedro has areas for SSS online registration, mobile app learning, and a customer care center for face-to-face transactions.

“As we continue our digital transformation, the SSS is aware of the current situation where some of the members and pensioners need assistance in using our My.SSS Portal and SSS Mobile App,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said in a news release on Wednesday.

“Hence, we created a digital branch to encourage members to enroll in the My.SSS Portal.”

She said branch personnel will guide members and pensioners in using the electronic services so they could later use the online tools at home.

“We will continue to convert regular branches to digital in National Capital Region and selected provinces nationwide.”

The SSS in January said it has seen an increase in fraud incidents being reported by its members.

It warned the public against joining Facebook groups that offer online transaction help for a fee, noting that the groups are illegal and could be mining personal data.

SSS services are mostly free, charging a fee only for Unified Multi-purpose ID card replacement.

The SSS, along with the Government Service Insurance System, has been ramping up digitalization initiatives to deliver services during the public health crisis, the Finance department said. — J.P. Ibañez

POCO announces new ‘flagship-level’ phones

TECHNOLOGY brand POCO this week announced new mobile phones touted to be “flagship-level.”

POCO announced the global launch of POCO X4 Pro 5G and POCO M4 Pro during its first official showcase at the Mobile World Congress, it said in a statement.

“This unveiling is a key milestone for our brand. At POCO, we strive to surpass customers’ expectations and go above and beyond to provide the best experience at an affordable price,” Kevin Qiu, head of POCO Global, was quoted as saying.

“With POCO X4 Pro 5G, we definitely set the industry standard for this segment, and with these prominent flagship-level features, we truly take the user experience to the next level. For consumers looking for a superior and fun entertainment experience at an unbeatable price, POCO M4 Pro is a highly competitive option,” he added.

The POCO X4 Pro 5G has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by a Snapdragon 695 5G processor and two Arm Cortex-A78 performance cores that can reach speeds of up to 2.2GHz. The phone also has a 360Hz touch sampling rate, which means it responds to each action with less lag.

Its main camera is a 108MP sensor with a 9-in-1 binning technology for improved clarity. The smartphone also has an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP micro camera on the rear, while its front camera is a 16MP sensor. It also offers slow motion, dual-video, time-lapse video, super macro, movie filters and kaleidoscope.

The X4 Pro 5G comes with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W turbo charging. It will be available in three colors: laser black, laser blue, and POCO yellow. The 6GB+128GB model’s recommended retail price is at P16,990 while the 8GB+256GB one will cost about P17,990.

Meanwhile, the POCO M4 Pro features a 6.43-inch screen uses AMOLED DotDisplay with a 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate.

The phone has a triple rear camera setup with a 64MP high-resolution main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro lens, as well as a 16MP front camera.

The M4 Pro has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W Pro fast charging. It carries the MediaTek Helio G96 chipset, a 2.05GHz octa-core CPU and ARM Mali-G57 MC2 GPU.

The POCO M4 Pro will also come in three colors: power black, cool blue, and POCO yellow. It will also be available in two variants: 6GB+128GB (P12,990) and 8GB+256GB (P13,990). —  BVR

AllDay rolls out ‘smart carts’ in stores

ALLDAY Marts, Inc. has rolled out “smart carts,” which gives in-store customers detailed information about their grocery items right after the product is placed inside their cart.

“This puts even more convenience and information about what they are buying in real time, right at their fingertips,” AllDay Vice-Chairman Camille A. Villar said in a statement on Wednesday.

“More importantly, introducing these smart carts helps raise the bar for the local supermarket landscape, driving home our point that Filipino consumers now prefer experiential shopping, and we are of course happy to deliver,” she added.

AllDay’s smart cart automatically scans the items placed inside the cart, showing customers prices and other information about the product on its user interface.

The cart also generates a real-time total of the shopper’s products. AllDay said this lets shoppers “monitor and compare against their budget, or their shopping list for that particular trip.”

Aside from smart carts, AllDay also introduced new services amid the pandemic, such as its Personal Shopper Service and personal self-checkout counters. The company is also planning to improve its e-commerce platform, www.allday.com.ph.

“The importance of continuous improvement of our services and experiences remains a top business priority for us, right alongside expanding our store network and bringing our established elevated in-store customer experience to even more communities all over the country,” Ms. Villar said.

AllDay now has 35 stores across the country. The company is aiming to have 45 by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, AllDay shares at the stock market slipped by 1.92% or a centavo on Wednesday, closing at 51 centavos per share. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

How PSEi member stocks performed — March 2, 2022

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Philippines slips in global freedom report

Philippines slips in global freedom report

Shares drop on profit taking as conflict worsens

STOCKS slid on Wednesday on profit taking and as Russia continued to attack Ukraine, affecting prices of oil and commodities.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell by 100.59 points or 1.35% to close at 7,304.02 on Wednesday, while the broader all shares dropped by 40.31 points or 1.02% to close at 3,880.74.

“Local and global equities fell in what has become a volatile week as the Russia-Ukraine crisis deepened and stirred anxiety among investors,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

“The local bourse declined near its support level on the back of intensifying Russia-Ukraine tensions, with the global oil prices topping $100 per barrel, especially the Dubai Crude. This raises worries about our local inflation rate,” Philstocks Financial Research Associate Claire T. Alviar said in a Viber message.

“Negative sentiment from overseas markets also spilled over in the local bourse. In addition, traders also took profit after the two-day rally of the market,” Ms. Alviar added.

Russia is aiming to erase Ukraine, its history and people, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video on Wednesday as the seventh day of Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor started with heavy shelling of the Black Sea port of Mariupol, Reuters reported.

Moscow switched to strikes on Ukrainian cities on Tuesday and appeared poised for an advance on Kyiv as the West tightened an economic noose around Russia in retaliation.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.56% with China’s blue-chip CSI300 index 1.12% lower.

Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.68%.

US West Texas Intermediate crude jumped nearly 6% to $109.30, its highest since September 2013.

The effect of the war on commodity prices is causing inflation concerns due to supply worries, Mr. Limlangan said.

“Investors await Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s semiannual hearing at House Committee on Financial Services to get some clues on potential rate hikes,” Mr. Limlangan added.

A shifting global growth outlook has seen investors trim bets that the Federal Reserve will aggressively hike interest rates in coming months.

Majority of sectoral indices ended in the red except for mining and oil, which increased by 178.98 points or 1.43% to 12,661.68.

Meanwhile, property went down by 79.38 points or 2.24% to 3,458.28; industrials declined by 171.67 points or 1.67% to 10,092.95; financials lost by 17.26 points or 1.01% to 1,688.20; services dropped 16.94 points or 0.87% to 1,923.20, and holding firms fell by 55.61 points or 0.78% to 7,072.30.

Value turnover increased to P7.78 million with 1.43 billion shares changing hands on Wednesday from P7.84 billion with 1.01 billion issues seen the previous trading day.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 128 versus 65, while 44 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling climbed to P295.42 million yesterday from P83.13 million on Tuesday. — L.M.J.C. Jocson with Reuters

Peso drops vs dollar as tensions deepen

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO weakened versus the greenback on Wednesday as Russia continued to attack Ukraine, which has caused oil supply worries.

The local unit closed at P51.42 per dollar on Wednesday, weaker by 19 centavos from its P51.23 finish on Tuesday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened the session weaker at P51.35 versus the dollar. Its worst showing was at P51.455, while its intraday best was at P51.32 against the greenback.

Dollars exchanged increased to $1.032 billion on Wednesday from $942.21 million on Tuesday.

The peso weakened due to safe-haven demand for the dollar amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a trader said in an e-mail.

Reuters reported that more than 450,000 people have moved to Poland from Ukraine while 113,000 went to Romania to escape the atrocities caused by the Russian invasion that started last week.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said continued increase in global oil prices due to geopolitical tensions also caused market worries.

Oil prices jumped to their highest since 2014 on Tuesday amid market concerns on oil supply despite the agreement of some economies to release crude reserves.

Brent futures increased by $7 or 7.1% to settle at $104.97 a barrel, the highest close since August 2014. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed $7.69 or 8% to $103.41 a barrel, the highest close since July 2014.

For Thursday, both Mr. Ricafort and the trader gave a forecast range of P51.30 to P51.50 versus the dollar. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

Nuclear policy expected to be issued soon, Energy dep’t says

REUTERS

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said on Wednesday that it expects President Rodrigo R. Duterte to issue an executive order (EO) outlining a policy on nuclear energy soon.

“We heard from the Office of the President that the policy (on nuclear energy) will be approved soon, it’s an EO. (The Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee) is just looking into the framework of the policy,” Energy Undersecretary Gerardo D. Erguiza said at a virtual briefing.

The nuclear policy is among the components of the Nuclear Energy Program, which will also require the drafting of a framework, legislation, compliance with international standards, and stakeholder consultation.

“We are in a good direction regarding our nuclear (energy prospects) and Russia is in the picture as one of the principal providers of nuclear power plants as they have good technology,” Mr. Erguiza said.

He said the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not expected to affect plans for a Russian role in developing nuclear infrastructure here.

In 2017, the Philippines signed an agreement with the Russian State Atomic Energy Corp. to help develop facilities preparatory to building power plants.

“We don’t see any problem with Russia on (energy) cooperation because it’s cooperation in building the nuclear infrastructure. We won’t immediately build a power plant, but… we have to come up with many studies (on) safety, security, (fuel) management, and radiation,” he said.

The DoE hopes to complete by April a feasibility study with Russia on nuclear energy.

The Philippines also has an agreement to collaborate with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. to develop small modular reactors, and plans to start in two weeks a collaboration with the US to study modular technology as well.

Small modular reactors are fission reactors capable of producing up to 300 megawatts. — Marielle C. Lucenio

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