Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7+ for Business is ideal for those working, studying on the go

July 1, 2021 | 12:03 am

MICROSOFT Corp. recently introduced its Surface Pro 7+ for Business, aimed at empowering businesses and students amid a pandemic crisis that has accelerated digital transformation across industries.

The Surface Pro 7+ for Business is ideal for bosses, employees and students who work or study from anywhere and everywhere, thanks to its faster performance and improved all-day battery life of up to 15 hours.

The device, which comes with optional LTE Advanced for fast connection, is powered by the latest 11^th-gen Intel Core processors. It comes with up to 32 gigabytes (GB) of random-access memory (RAM) and 1 terabyte (TB) of storage.

After long hours of work outside, users can see the device charged to 80% in less than an hour.

Another new feature is the removable solid-state drive (SSD), which allows users to have more control over their data.

The Surface Pro 7+ for Business is a versatile device. It can be used as a touch-screen tablet or a laptop with the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard. It also has a Studio mode for the 15-degree writing and drawing angle with Surface Pen.

Users can stay connected even when traveling and when WiFi is unavailable as the 1.7-pound device comes with an option for 4G LTE.

The ultra-light Surface Pro 7+ also has USB-C and USB-A ports for charging devices or connecting accessories.

The device, which includes Windows 10 Pro and Microsoft 365 applications, sports a 12.3” PixelSense display with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels.

Microsoft integrated front and rear-facing cameras into the device with 1080p full high-definition video along with Dolby Atmos speakers and dual far-field Studio Mics. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Note: Microsoft provided BusinessWorld with a test unit for this review.

Asia United Bank targets to grow assets under management by 20%

July 1, 2021 | 12:03 am

ASIA UNITED Bank Corp. (AUB) is looking to grow its trust business’ assets under management (AUM) by 20% to P32 billion amid improving investor confidence due to better economic prospects, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

The bank’s growth target, if realized, will be faster than the 12% increase in its AUMs in 2020 to P26.4 billion.

“The looser monetary policy of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) enabled AUB to generate returns higher than deposit rates through investments,” AUB said.

AUB Senior Vice-President and Head of Trust Andrew A. Chua said more clients parked their excess cash in unit investment trust funds last year after the BSP cut benchmark interest rates to record lows.

For this year, Mr. Chua expects investors to continue opting for fixed-income assets for a stable flow of income. However, returns from these investments may be small as inflation remains elevated while the BSP has also kept borrowing costs steady, making real interest rates negative.

Inflation stood at 4.5% for the third straight month in May, above the BSP’s 2-4% target but slower than the 4.7% in February.

“Since inflation is expected to hover at the 4% level, this means you would need to invest in an asset that would generate over 5% gross. Looking at the 10-year fixed-income treasury notes now (which stand below 4%), this is hardly possible,” Mr. Chua said.

He said investors are recommended to keep a mixed portfolio of both fixed-income assets and equities to maximize their funds.

“Despite the volatile nature of equities, we still believe that over the medium- to long-term horizon, they will still provide growth ranging from 8-10%. Mixing this with fixed income will definitely enhance and protect investors from inflation,” Mr. Chua said.

AUB last week said it targets to grow its net earnings by 30% to P4 billion this year from P3 billion in 2020. The bank is optimistic that improving consumer confidence will boost its lending business.

The bank’s net income dropped by 38% to P736 million in the first quarter from a year earlier due to higher loan loss provisions.

AUB’s shares closed at P46.10 apiece on Wednesday, down by five centavos or 0.11% from its previous finish. — L.W.T. Noble

Appliance maker goes green

July 1, 2021 | 12:03 am

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ONE wouldn’t normally think of appliances as weapons against climate change and pollution, but here we are, about to extol the green virtues of some.

During last week’s Beko Global Sustainability Virtual Launch, Beko presented its BioCoffee Espresso Machine, AutoDose Dishwasher, EcoTub Washing Machine & Washer Dryer, GreenDry Tumble Dryer, EcoFiber Oven, and BioCycle Refrigerator. In a speech prior to the presentation, Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Beko parent Arçelik, discussed their environmental thrust. “You can see our vision statement behind me: ‘respecting the world; respected worldwide.’”

“We live by this statement in every area of our business and our personal lives,” he said.

He talked about the commitments they have made to reduce their emissions: these include a commitment to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 30% by 2030, and reducing Scope 3 emissions by 15%. Others include using 40% recycled plastic, recycling 99% of manufacturing waste, and reducing water consumption by 45%. They have also been carbon-neutral for the past two years.

“Many of my contemporary counterparts claim that they will become carbon-neutral by 2030, 2040, some even 2050. All I’m saying is that it’s too late. We have to act today and we have to put our responsibility towards the planet before anything else,” said Mr. Bulgurlu.

The espresso machine, for example, is developed with bio-composite technology, and each Espresso Machine is made of five cups of coffee residue, reducing its carbon footprint by 5% in bio-composite parts. The dishwasher, meanwhile, dispenses the right amount of detergent, and in each wash, up to 28% less detergent is used.

The fridge is made from durable components composed of bio-based plastics, and the egg trays are made, appropriately, from eggshell wastes and bioplastics (each egg tray boasts of using eggshell waste from five eggs). The fridge’s fan cover is made of 100% bio-based plastics from sustainable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane, and the door seal is made from 25% bio-based (soybean oil) materials.

The oven, meanwhile, uses a sustainable material from recycled fishnet waste and industrial thread waste, and 50% of the BI Oven inner display cover is made from industrial thread waste. The dryer uses recycled plastic in 15% of its plastic parts on average, including in the water tank housing and back cover.

Finally, the washing machine contains approximately up to 60 recycled 0.5L PET bottles, particularly in the tubs of the washing machines and washer dryers on certain models.

Why do they do it?

Mr. Bulgurlu says that some companies believe that going green costs money. He counters: “There are many, many ways where you can do the right thing, without any cost.”

“Doing the right thing is also profitable, or can make you more cost-competitive. We have lived this example, and we want to share this example with many companies.”

Adapting their methods and products for a pro-environment policy is also an adaptive measure, he said. “I believe that the companies that do the right things by the planet will get ahead, and the ones that don’t will disappear. Sustainability doesn’t only mean doing the right thing by the planet and the environment — it also means making your business more sustainable.

“By doing right, you will win; by doing wrong, you will lose.”

The brand has been in the Philippine market for five years and is currently available in select SM Appliance Centers, Robinsons, All Home, Anson’s, Savers, Great World, and Manila Imperial Appliances Stores, and Asian Home Appliance Center in Cebu, and in e-commerce partners: Lazada and Household Appliances Trading (hat.com.ph). For information, follow @bekoph on Facebook and Instagram or go to http://www.beko.ph. — J.L. Garcia

Cirtek receives PSE nod for stock rights offer, warrants

July 1, 2021 | 12:03 am

CIRTEK Holdings Philippines Corp. received the approval of The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) for its stock rights offering with bonus detachable warrants.

The company said in regulatory filing on Wednesday that shareholders eligible to participate in the stock rights offering should pass the requisite documents and participate during the offer period scheduled on July 12 to July 22.

Listing for both the rights shares and the bonus detachable warrants are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 16, while the ex-rights date and record date will be on July 2 and July 7, respectively.

Further, the company announced that investors who hold common shares of Cirtek before the ex-rights date will be entitled to subscribe to additional common shares, known as entitlement rights, at a price of P5.50.

“The Entitlement Rights shall be subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Cirtek’s application for increase in authorized capital stock. For every one Entitlement Right subscribed to, one bonus detachable warrant shall be issued free of charge to the investor and shall be issued as part of the subscription to the Entitlement Rights,” Cirtek said.

“Each bonus detachable warrant entitles the investor the right to subscribe to one underlying common share of Cirtek beginning on the 12^th month until the 36^th month from issue date at an exercise price of P5.50. The bonus detachable warrants shall be exercisable during business hours within the first two trading days of each month,” it added.

According to Cirtek, an investor will be entitled to one entitlement right for every 1.68 common shares held.

“Correspondingly, for every one Entitlement Right subscribed to, the investor will be issued one bonus detachable warrant with one underlying common share of Cirtek to be issued upon exercise of the bonus detachable warrant,” the company said.

On June 25, Cirtek announced the final offer price of its rights share at P5.50 and the final exercise price of its bonus detachable warrants also at P5.50.

“[The company] intends to list 249,442,472 common shares and 249,442,472 Bonus Detachable Warrants with 249,442,472 underlying common shares,” Cirtek said.

“Cirtek expects to raise gross proceeds of P1,371,933,596 from the stock rights offering of 249,442,472 Entitlement Rights. Net proceeds will be used to primarily finance the working capital of Quintel USA, Inc., Cirtek Electronics Corp. and Cirtek Advanced Technologies and Solutions, Inc., as well as to refinance the existing debt and pay out short-term obligations of Cirtek Electronics Corp.,” it added.

On Wednesday, shares of Cirtek at the stock exchange improved 0.98% or six centavos to end at P6.18 per share. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

With 3D printed ‘steaks,’ Spanish startup eyes the mass market

July 1, 2021 | 12:02 am

BARCELONA — As demand for plant-based alternatives to meat rises, Barcelona-based startup Novameat is using its 3D printing technology to manufacture vegetarian “steaks” that it hopes will reach the mass market next year.

Novameat plans to sell its “steaks” directly to consumers and to businesses such as restaurants interested in producing plant-based meat, business development manager Alexandre Campos told Reuters on Tuesday.

The Spanish company, which developed its technology in 2018, was showing how its latest 3D printer produced food at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress (MWC).

“It didn’t have the feeling of a traditional steak but I was positively surprised because I did not expect that the texture would be so well achieved,” said Ferran Gregori, after trying one of the “steaks” printed at Novameat’s stand at the world’s largest telecoms gathering.

The company uses 3D technology to test recipes, introducing ingredients through capsules because it is a cheaper process than mass-producing, Mr. Campos said.

Once a model is considered successful, it could then be produced on a larger scale in bigger machines not using 3D technology, manufacturing up to 500 kg of fake meat per hour, he added.

Mr. Campos said the startup’s aim had been to recreate the muscle fibers of animal meat but using 100% plant-based ingredients. He forecast the plant-based industry would keep growing at double-digit rates in the foreseeable future.

The company also said it was producing the fake meat for environmental reasons.

“(We seek to) replace animal meat for something that is better for the planet, ourselves and animals,” Mr. Campos said. — Reuters

Investing for a longer term key to riding out market swings

July 1, 2021 | 12:02 am

INVESTORS should expand their investment horizon to increase the chances of getting higher income, especially during times of crises when markets are highly volatile.

“The global market turmoil triggered by the pandemic has underscored the view that as investment horizon increases, the chances of earning positive returns also increase as more time helps smooth out the volatility of returns,” Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corp. (Manulife IM Philippines) said in a note on Wednesday.

Its study showed a 10-year investment horizon for equities in Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) will likely yield a 100% positive return, better than the 94% rate for a five-year duration and the 68% for one year.

Manulife IM Philippines said in the past, equity markets generally posted a sharp rebound after crisis-induced sell-offs, as observed in markets in the Philippines, the United States, and Hong Kong/China, which have posted returns of 39%, 75% and 56%, respectively, a year after hitting their bottoms in March 2020.

“This market behavior was repeated in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began to take center stage… Investors who stayed invested and even added to their investments in these markets made the correct and profitable decisions,” it said.

Aside from investing for a longer term, Manulife IM Philippines said players should also consider applying the cost averaging strategy, where they invest regularly to manage their risks, especially for those who were not able to catch the bottom of the market.

“Catching the bottom is not crucial in generating good returns if investors adopt regular investing or cost averaging. It is a proven investment strategy that can mitigate investors’ behavioral biases, such as being too cautious when prices are low and being too greedy when prices are high, and also enable them to ride out market volatility in a more proactive way,” it said.

Market volatility will likely ease amid an expected slowdown in inflation and improving economic data, Paul Lu, the head of Manulife IM Philippines’ wealth solutions division, said in a Zoom interview last week.

He said they expect a strong rebound in the first phase of countries’ economic recovery as they try to reopen more sectors. However, sustaining this will depend largely on the pace of vaccination rollouts.

Inflation, meanwhile, will gradually become less of a concern for investors as it is expected to slow down for the rest of the year.

“Towards the second half of the year, we think that the market environment will be better for investors. But since it’s a volatile market, we want to encourage investors to consider investing during these volatile times. We encourage them to stay calm and think long term,” Mr. Lu said. — Beatrice M. Laforga

DITO to offer products in M Lhuillier branches

July 1, 2021 | 12:02 am

DITO Telecommunity Corp. has partnered with M Lhuillier to make its products and services available to the nonbank financial institution’s 3,000 branches nationwide, a company official said on Tuesday.

“With M Lhuillier’s help, we can make DITO products and services accessible to more Filipinos nationwide,” DITO Sales Director Angel Mercado said in a statement.

DITO’s products and services will also be included in the ML Wallet App, the official mobile application of M Lhuillier.

M Lhuillier President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Lhuillier said: “We’re always forging strategic partnerships to uplift the lives of Filipinos.”

“DITO’s cutting-edge telecommunications products will be made available to millions of M Lhuillier customers in our 3,000 branches nationwide and in the ML Wallet App,” he added.

DITO said it now has one million subscribers nationwide, just a few weeks after its launch in the National Capital Region.

DITO aims to have 30% share of the market. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Eighty-year-old Japanese firm may be key to next-gen chip tech

July 1, 2021 | 12:02 am

ONE Japanese company that got its start making grinding wheels for machinery more than 80 years ago believes it holds the key to helping manufacturers create ever slimmer and more powerful semiconductors to power next-generation mobile phones and advanced computers.

Disco Corp.’s machines can grind a silicon wafer down to a near-transparent thinness and cut the tip of a hair into 35 sections. That knowhow will allow chipmakers to stack integrated circuits on top of each other in a process called 3D packaging, promising smaller chip footprints, reduced power consumption and higher bandwidth between various parts.

“Imagine having to cut a croissant cleanly in half,” Disco’s Chief Executive Officer Kazuma Sekiya said in an interview. “That takes a special kind of knife and considerable craftsmanship.”

The semiconductor industry has long relied on Moore’s Law as a model for chip-technology breakthroughs, but makers are now approaching the physical limits of their ability to cram more transistors onto silicon as leaders like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. migrate to ever-smaller nodes such as 3 nanometers. That’s prompting manufacturers to turn to solutions like 3D packaging to provide an edge. Disco’s technology has been in the making for four to five years and it’s finally ready for practical use, Sekiya said.

The small number of specialized machines Disco has already shipped have had very high gross margins, the CEO said, without providing details. Dicers are typically used toward the end of the fabrication process to cut individual chips from a wafer. Slicing more chips earlier in the process, where per-unit prices are higher, resulting in a boost for Disco’s revenues, he added, declining to give a specific timeline.

“Disco has grown at twice the semiconductor industry’s pace because of this need for precision grinding and dicing equipment,” Damian Thong, an analyst at Macquarie Group Ltd., said. “Over the last 40 years, they have worked on every kind of cutting application imaginable, so they are well positioned for this next shift to 3D integration and packaging.”

Some memory chips and image sensors — devices that convert light into ones and zeros — already make use of vertical integration. TSMC has said it will spend about one tenth of its $30-billion capital expenditure budget this year on advanced packaging and masking technologies.

Sekiya’s grandfather founded the company in 1937 to cash in on demand for grinding equipment amid Japan’s pre-war military buildup. After the war, Disco’s abrasive wheels found use in grinding magnets for electricity meters and slitting fountain pen nibs. In 1974, it was tasked by the University of Tokyo with the job of cutting the moon rock brought back by the Apollo 11 mission.

It opened its US office in 1969, a year after Intel Corp. was founded and at the very dawn of the microchip revolution. Disco is now one of a number of little-known Japanese companies that are indispensable to semiconductor production. It controls 81% of the market for grinders and 73% for dicers in semiconductors, according to Nomura Securities Co.

Disco’s revenue grew 30% last fiscal year to 182.9 billion yen ($1.65 billion), while profit jumped almost 46% to 53.1 billion yen. Both were at a record high, in part as manufacturers raced to boost supplies in a global chip shortage. Sekiya said there are still no signs of slack in demand and Disco is shopping for land in Hiroshima and Nagano prefectures to expand its factories.

“This momentum will definitely continue through the fiscal first half,” he said. “There are zero signs of a slowdown right now.” — Bloomberg

Filinvest plans Clark district cooling system

July 1, 2021 | 12:01 am

A SUBSIDIARY of Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) is set to develop a district cooling system for its Mimosa Plus Leisure City inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

The property developer said in a statement on Wednesday that its subsidiary, Filinvest Clark Mimosa, Inc., partnered with Philippine DCS Development Corp. (PDDC) to develop the system for property.

PDDC, formed in 2013, is a joint venture between FLI and France-based multinational firm ENGIE, which developed and operated another district cooling system at Northgate Cyberzone in Filinvest City, Alabang.

According to FLI, a district cooling system “distributes cooling capacity in the form of chilled water or other medium from a central source to multiple buildings through a network of underground pipes for use in space and process cooling.”

“The system is more efficient than conventional air conditioning and has a significant positive environmental effect by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and pollution,” FLI said.

Ana Venus Mejia, chief finance officer of FLI unit Cyberzone Properties, Inc., said the company is continuously looking for better building designs and methods that consider cost efficiency and environmental impact.

“A cooling system is our foremost priority as it has a significant impact, not only in terms of capital expenditure and maintenance, but because of the significant energy savings we generate and its environmental impact,” Ms. Mejia said.

The district cooling system has been able to cool buildings in the 18.7-hectare Northgate Cyberzone and lowered its greenhouse gas emissions. The system has a 10,000-ton refrigerant plant, a 42.2-megawatt cooling capacity, and a 3.4-kilometer underground distribution network of steel pipes. It also improves water efficiency by removing the use of makeup water and chemical treatment of cooling towers.

“The district cooling system is an essential solution to cool cities efficiently and will play a critical role in fighting climate change in Southeast Asia,” ENGIE Southeast Asia CEO Thomas Baudlot said.

Meanwhile, FLI said that Cyberzone Properties is set to be renamed as Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILREIT) pending regulatory approval.

Based on FILREIT’s registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company’s portfolio includes 17 office buildings, consisting of one office tower with a retail component in Cebu and 16 office buildings at Northgate Cyberzone, Alabang.

During the first quarter of 2021, FLI posted a 45% decline in its attributable net income to P736 million from P1.35 billion a year ago.

Gross revenues fell 20% to P4.54 billion as residential revenues went down 20% to P2.47 billion.

On Wednesday, shares of FLI at the stock exchange fell 0.90% or one centavo and closed at P1.10 apiece. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

‘Smart cane’ brings tech advances to visually impaired

July 1, 2021 | 12:01 am

BARCELONA — White sticks used by the visually impaired to help them get about have had a hi-tech makeover, with a “smart cane” that doesn’t just detect obstacles but can also give users information about the shops and restaurants they are passing.

The device is the brain-child of Kursat Ceylan, a Turkish inventor who was born blind and had an accident three years ago that left him scarred as he struggled to navigate while pulling luggage and checking GPS directions through his smartphone.

He helped to set up WeWALK, a tech company that has created an electronic handle for the top of a cane. It uses ultrasound to detect obstacles, can be paired with a smartphone and gives voice feedback to help keep the user safe and informed.

“We are providing an opportunity to visually impaired people to be a part of the social life,” Ceylan, aged 35, told Reuters at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where the company is pitching for the title of “best impact startup.”

He said the foldable cane, priced at $599, was already being used by thousands of visually impaired people in 59 countries, and WeWALK was working with companies including Microsoft to add more features.

“As you know, we are thinking about fully autonomous vehicles… WeWALK is a device to provide a fully autonomous blind journey to visually impaired people.” — Reuters

Foreign currency loans down as of March

July 1, 2021 | 12:01 am

BANKS’ foreign currency loans declined as of March as the economic downturn meant less need for working capital. — BW FILE PHOTO

FOREIGN CURRENCY loans extended by local banks dropped at end-March as muted economic activity amid the pandemic resulted in a decline in working capital requirements.

Outstanding loans granted by the foreign currency deposit units (FCDU) of banks inched down by 1.9% to $16.337 billion as of March from $16.652 billion at end-December 2020.

FCDU loans also fell by 10.58% from the $18.271 billion seen as of March 2020.

As of March 2021, the maturity profile of FCDU loans was mostly medium- to long-term debt, or those payable in more than a year, representing 79.1% of the total.

FCDUs are BSP-approved bank units that perform transactions involving foreign currencies, such as accepting deposits and handing out loans.

The lower FCDU loans may be attributed to the economy remaining in recession, which translated to lower capital requirements among borrowers, the central bank said.

Banks’ reluctance to lend and the availability of other funding sources may have also caused the decline in foreign currency loans at the end of the first quarter, the BSP added.

The economy remained in recession in the first quarter as gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 4.2%. Last year, the economy shrank by a record 9.6%.

Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces were placed under strict lockdown in March as infections surged anew. Restrictions were gradually eased starting April.

Central bank data showed about two-thirds (67.7%) of FCDU loans as of March or $11.066 billion were extended to Philippine residents, with 63.8% of this or $10.42 billion going to private entities.

Among industries, the largest chunk of loans went to power generation companies (27.1%), followed by merchandise and service exporters (21.7%) and public utility firms (11.4%).

Meanwhile, the remaining 32.3% of FCDU loans or $5.271 billion went to non-resident borrowers.

By source, local banks extended 88.1% or $14.387 billion of the FCDU loans recorded as of March, while $1.949 billion or 11.9% were from foreign bank branches and subsidiaries.

At end-March, gross loan disbursements increased by 13.5% to $15.8 billion from the end-December 2020 level due to the increase in the funding requirements of an affiliate of a branch of a foreign bank.

Meanwhile, FCDU deposit liabilities slipped by 1.2% to $44.508 billion in the same period due to the appreciation of the peso during the period.

The overall FCDU loans-to-deposit ratio stood at 36.7% as of March, down from the 37% logged as of December 2020 and the 42.4% seen a year earlier. — L.W.T. Noble

Dining In/Out (07/01/21)

July 1, 2021 | 12:01 am

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Rico’s Lechon offers Lechon Baka

RICO’S Lechon’s newest offering is Lechon Baka. Roast beef that is hand-sliced, keeping its juiciness and tenderness in the meat. Intensify the flavors even further by dipping the Lechon Baka in Rico’s Lechon’s homemade vinegar, SukaLami. Rico’s Lechon Baka is available in Junior Size (serves one to two persons (P350) and Fiesta Size (serves six to eight persons (P1,350). It also comes in Rico’s iconic spicy variant, which is priced at P380 for the Junior Size and P1,460 for the Fiesta Size. Launching on July 1, customers can avail of Rico’s Lechon Baka in select stores: Rico’s Lechon BGC, Tiendesitas, and U.P. Town Center, and soon in all Metro Manila and Cebu stores. Customers can pre-order for pick-up and delivery by contacting the Lechon Fulfillment Center at 0917-814-4678, 0918-888-0555, and 7799-0810. Frozen Rico’s Lechon Baka will soon be available in supermarkets nationwide. For more information, visit www.ricoslechon.com.

KFC opens the KFC Pride-Thru

PRIDE Month is about to end but the celebration of and fight for Pride goes beyond June. On June 26, KFC transformed its Bonifacio Triangle Branch into a one-of-a-kind march to support Metro Manila Pride. The fast-food restaurant is a corporate sponsor of the non-profits behind the annual Metro Manila Pride March. But with no large physical gatherings allowed, KFC instead turned its drive-thru branch into a safe space for LGBTQIA+ members and allies. There were posters at the venue saying “Love is the Original Recipe” and “Drive out the hate.” Rainbow posters fill the wall at the KFC Pride-Thru which became a venue for people to show their solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community as they had their own Pride march from inside their cars. Each car was given a special-edition rainbow Pride Float as part of the day’s festivities. To learn more about LGBTQIA+ issues and support Pride efforts, visit mmpride.org.

Century Park Hotel joins Manila Restaurant Week 2021

MANILA Restaurant Week is back until July 4. Century Park Hotel is once again supporting this endeavor by giving discounts to dine-in guests and customers who want to avail of the select dishes via takeout or delivery. Enjoy a 40% discount at the Atrium Lounge. For breakfast (8-10 a.m.) try the Korean Garlic Bun or Chocolate Croissant (reduced from P295 to P177). Each set comes with complimentary brewed coffee and a refill. For lunch (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), order the Katsu Curry Udon, Gyu Curry Udon or Ebi Furai Udon (reduced from P695 to P417). Each meal comes with a glass of iced tea. Meanwhile, dinner (5-8 p.m.) options range from Century Park Hamburger (reduced from P505 to P303) to Inihaw na Pampano (reduced from P770 to P462) and Bistek Manileño (reduced from P770 to P462). For more information on how to avail of these offers, check Facebook (Manila Restaurant Week), Instagram (@manilarestaurantweekofficial) and the website (http://manila.gov.ph/manilarestaurantweek).

SaladStop! offers power salads

SALADSTOP!’s Iron “Wo”-man will be back for a limited time only in all Metro Manila stores from July 6 to Aug. 30, and in all Cebu stores from July 13 to Aug. 30. This light and refreshing salad is loaded with baby spinach, feta cheese, roasted pumpkin, yellow raisins, and roasted almonds, all lightly dressed with a Raspberry Vinaigrette. The salad is high in fiber and protein, and iron. This July, SaladStop! joins the Smart Bakuna Benefits program. As a perk for vaccinated individuals, they get a 10% discount for a minimum P500 single receipt purchase on dine-in or takeout from July 1 to Aug. 31. To avail, present your COVID-19 vaccination card and a valid ID. Valid in SaladStop! Metro Manila stores only. SaladStop! is located at Central Square, Power Plant Mall, Greenhills, Glorietta 2, Burgos Circle, Alabang Town Center, Salcedo Village, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, U.P. Town Center, Robinsons Cyberscape Gamma, Oakridge Business Park Cebu, TriNoma, and Ayala North Exchange.

Grab Ph, Kraver’s Canteen team up on cloud kitchens

GRAB Philippines has entered into a partnership with cloud-kitchen operator Kraver’s Canteen to set-up GrabKitchen facilities to help restaurants and brands reach new consumers and maximize operations while lowering overhead expenses. GrabKitchens allow brands and restaurants to open up delivery-only kitchen facilities within a central facility, with shared manpower. This allows brands to fulfill orders without having to spend capital on setting up physical store fronts and paying wait staff, enabling restaurant owners to focus on developing new menu items. What sets GrabKitchen apart is: consumers can mix and match their orders across different brands and restaurants located within the same GrabKitchen site and have them delivered while paying a single delivery fee. Through the partnership, Grab Philippines and Kraver’s Canteen will collaborate to manage key areas of the venture. Grab leads all the digital and customer-facing aspects of the partnership, utilizing historical data to identify opportunities in each market, and using the Grab app to drive marketing while Kraver’s will manage the physical and kitchen-facing aspects. There are currently three GrabKitchen branches: in Paranaque, Malate, and Sampaloc. Stay tuned for the opening of more GrabKitchen branches by following GrabFood on Facebook and Instagram.

Margarita Forés among chefs in La Germania’s Masterclass Series

APPLIANCE brand La Germania is hosting the Cooking with La Germania: Masterclass Series, a five-part virtual cooking class in partnership with well-known chefs and celebrities. During these online lessons, expert instructors will be present to guide viewers through the step-by-step process of how to cook their signature dishes from their restaurants. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the chefs. Among the instructors are award-winning restaurateur and founder of Cibo, Margarita Forés who will share her recipe for Penne al Telefono; chef Lau of Chef Laudico Guevarra’s and OK Cafe who will demonstrate Italian-style meatballs; Lee Jose, executive chef of Yabu and Ippudo who will teach his special recipe for the Japanese savory pancake Okonomiyaki; Kalel Chan, corporate chef of the Raintree Group, who will demonstrate how to make Chicken Namban; and, celebrity mom Saab Magalona-Bacarro and her husband Jim Bacarro who will prepare steak and mashed potatoes. Classes are limited to 10-12 participants per class to ensure that each attendee receives the guidance they need, except for Saab Magalona-Bacarro’s class which is free and open to the public. For the other classes there is a joining fee of P500. Interested parties may view more details and sign up through La Germania’s Facebook page.

Greenwich opens first delivery, take-out store, launches new flavors

GREENWICH has opened its first Delivery and Take-out store amidst the pandemic, increasing the brand’s accessibility, while adapting to the needs of the times using strict restaurant safety measures for customers’ off-premise consumption. While Delivery and Take-out services were already available in Greenwich’s over 270 stores nationwide even before the pandemic, there were not enough stores to service the huge demand. Aside from its first Delivery and Take-out only store located in Las Pinas City, Greenwich is planning to operate more Delivery and Take-out stores in locations all over the Philippines in the near future. Meanwhile, Greenwich is introducing its latest pizza line called the Extreme Overload. Available in the 12-inch barkada size and 15-inch party size, the four Extreme Overload flavors are: Extreme Hawaiian Overload, Extreme All-In Overload, Extreme Pepperoni Overload, and Extreme All Meat Overload. Prices for the pizzas start at P489. Order via greenwichdelivery.com, hotline #5-55-55, or by sending a direct message to Greenwich Barkada’s Facebook Messenger.

Max’s Group offers treats for the vaccinated

THE MAX’S Group of casual dining restaurants is supporting the local restaurant industry’s effort to help the country reach herd immunity through the Smart Bakuna Benefits program. Fully vaccinated customers can enjoy exclusive offers like free dishes, drink upsizes, discounts, or “buy one, get one” deals from brands such as Max’s Restaurant, Yellow Cab Pizza Co., Pancake House, Krispy Kreme, Teriyaki Boy, Sizzlin’ Steak, Dencio’s, and Jamba Juice. For a minimum purchase of P500, get a free solo Halo-Halo at Max’s. The promo is valid for dine-in transactions only and is available until Dec. 31 in all Max’s Restaurant branches nationwide. Not valid in conjunction with any other promos and discounts. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant. Enjoy a free 9” Classic NY-Style Thin Crust Pizza (Pepperoni or Hawaiian) by presenting your vaccination card (1^st dose or 2^nd dose) with your P750 purchase of ala carte products at Yellow Cab. This promo is available in selected branches for dine-in transactions only until Nov. 30. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/YellowCabPizzaOfficial. Enjoy a Buy 1, Get 1 offer for every order of two pieces of Classic Pancakes or Golden Brown Waffle. This offer is valid for dine in, single receipt transactions only in all stores until Dec. 31. Not valid with ongoing promos and discounts. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/PancakeHousePhilippines. Get a free Original Glazed doughnut when you buy any 12 oz. Krispy Kreme Beverage. Offer is valid for in-store purchase only at select stores and is available until Dec. 31. For more details, visit: http://bit.ly/FreeOGVacc. Get a free five-piece order of Gyoza for a minimum single receipt purchase of P900 at Teriyaki Boy. This offer is only available in the following branches: Burgos, Cash n’ Carry, MOA, SM Trece, Shell Mamplasan, SM Lipa, Nuciti Batangas. Valid for dine-in only until Aug. 31. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/TeriyakiBoyPh. At Sizzlin’ Steak, a minimum single receipt purchase of P900 comes with a free plate of Chicken Strips. This offer is only available in the following branches: SM Trece, Shell Mamplasan, SM Lipa, Nuciti Batangas. Valid for dine-in only until Aug. 31. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/SizzlinSteak. At Dencio’s, get three sticks of Pork BBQ for free when you make a minimum purchase of P1,000. This offer is valid for dine-in transactions only until Aug. 31. For more information on the participating branches, visit: https://www.facebook.com/denciosph. Enjoy a free upsize (from 16 oz to 22 oz) at Jamba Juice for Strawberries Wild, Banana Berry, or Chocolate Moo’d drink orders. This offer is valid for in-store purchases only at select participating branches. Available until Dec. 31. For more details, visit: bit.ly/BoostUpWithJamba. Vaccinated customers only need to show their vaccination cards and a valid ID to avail of the promos.

A special dinner, tour promo from The Palacio

INDULGE in some “me time” or spend time with friends over a meal and private tour at Palacio de Memoria, the restored pre-war mansion at the heart of Metro Manila. Palacio de Memoria is now offering a special “Tour & Dine” promo which includes an Italian meal at The Loggia, Margarita Forés’ new al fresco restaurant and a tour of The Palacio. Promo packages start at P750 and includes The Palacio tour, as well as iced tea and tramezzini prosciutto with tomato and basil. There are also packages priced at P1,000, and P1,500 which includes additional dishes from The Loggia. If you’re going with family, friends, or out-of-towners, Palacio is also offering a package for a group of 10 people at P10,000. Located along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City, Palacio de Memoria was restored by the Lhuillier family as a showcase of Filipino culture, arts, and history. Palacio de Memoria strictly implements safety protocols. For more information, visit https://www.palaciodememoria.com or follow @thepalaciodememoria on Facebook and @palacio.de.memoria on Instagram

Crimson Hotel’s Baker J now open

CRIMSON Hotel’s Baker J is now open, serving all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner selections, gourmet tartines, freshly baked bread and pastries, paired with its signature coffee concoctions. The restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Reservations are encouraged due to limited seating and social distancing protocols. Baker J is located at the Ground Lobby of Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Entrata Urban Complex, Civic Drive, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City