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LinkedIn to offer skills-development courses with Microsoft 

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING site LinkedIn Corp. said it entered into a partnership with Microsoft Corp. to offer free courses and affordable certifications to boost participants’ employability in what it characterized as a “skills-based economy.”

In a statement Wednesday, LinkedIn said it will offer the LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn courses until the end of the year. The free online courses and low-cost certifications are configured to suit the 10 most in-demand jobs as ranked by LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is also launching LinkedIn Skills Path, which helps recruiters connect and assess with the LinkedIn Learning courses and lead them to hire suitable candidates.

LinkedIn Managing Director and Vice-President for Asia Pacific and China Olivier Legrand said in a statement that skills are the “new currency” especially in the future of work, which makes it crucial to continuously improve on them. 

“LinkedIn, together with Microsoft, is committed to helping everyone shift towards a skills-based economy. In 2021, we will continue our efforts to equip job seekers with the right resources to pick up new skills and connect them to opportunities, as well as aim to help 250,000 organizations make a skills-first hire,” he said.

LinkedIn will also offer a Microsoft Teams app called Career Coach, aimed to guide college students in their career path of choice by helping discover their interests and goals. 

LinkedIn will also offer Microsoft Career Connector, which hopes to job-match 50,000 employment seekers to technology-related positions. 

Last year, LinkedIn said it helped over 5 million people build new digital skills through other initiatives with Microsoft. — Gillian M. Cortez

Trade deficit estimate for 2020 revised to $24.597B from $21.83B previously

REVISIONS to the trade data for 2020 yielded a larger than initially estimated deficit of $24.597 billion, compared with the tally announced in January of $21.830 billion, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Wednesday.  

The revised goods trade deficit is smaller than the deficits of $43.533 billion and $40.666 billion in 2018 and 2019, respectively. 

The revised export total for 2020 was $65.215 billion, against the $63.767 billion estimated previously. The new tally was 8.1% lower than the $70.927 billion posted in 2019, helping the export sector outperform the 16% decline forecast by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC). 

Imports last year were revised higher to $89.812 billion from $85.607 billion. The new total represents a decline of 19.5% from the imports tallied in 2019. The DBCC had assumed an import decline of 20%.

Exports of manufactured goods fell 8.7% to $53.779 billion in 2020. Goods accounted for 82.5% of last year’s export total. 

Electronics exports, which accounted for 58.2% of merchandise goods, declined 5.2% to $37.951 billion. 

Agriculture-based exports fell 7.4% to $4.784 billion last year.

Imports of capital goods fell 20.5% to $29.752 billion. These goods accounted for 33.1% of last year’s goods imports. 

Likewise, consumer goods imports fell 19.8% to $15.447 billion in 2020, while imports of raw materials and intermediate goods fell 11% to $36.158 billion. 

Japan took in $10.03 billion worth of Philippine exports, or 15.4% of the total. The US bought $10.02 billion for a 15.4% share and China $9.83 billion or 15.1%.

The top source of imports was China with goods worth $20.87 billion or 23.2% of the total, followed by Japan with $8.62 billion or 9.6% and the US $6.92 billion or 7.7% share. — Marissa Mae M. Ramos

Term deposit yields drop on lower oil prices, lockdown

YIELDS on central bank’s term deposits slipped on Wednesday amid lower oil prices and a decline in economic activity due to the return of stricter restriction measures in some parts of the country.

Bids for the term deposit facility (TDF) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hit P685.078 billion on Wednesday, surpassing the P480-billion offer. This was also more than the P669.409 billion in tenders seen last week.

“The results of the TDF auction continue to show ample liquidity in the financial system and are in line with market preference for safe assets as they factor in the BSP’s unchanged policy rate and the reimposition of stricter quarantine measures,” BSP Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila, Jr. said in a statement.

Broken down, tenders for the seven-day term deposits amounted to P226.288 billion, going beyond the P140-billion offering as well as the P261.363 billion in demand recorded the week prior.

Banks asked for yields ranging from 1.7% to 1.85%, a narrower range compared with the 1.71% to 1.89% seen last week. This brought the average rate of the one-week tenor to 1.828%, down by 1.52 basis points (bps) from the 1.8432% fetched on March 24.

Meanwhile, demand for 14-day deposits reached P458.79 billion, above the P340 billion auctioned off by the central bank and the P408.046 billion in tenders seen a week ago.

Accepted rates for the tenor were from 1.7% to 1.8924%, slimmer than the 1.5% to 1.929% band seen previously. With this, the average rate for the two-week papers dropped 1.71 bps to 1.8727% from 1.8898% in the previous auction.

The BSP did not offer 28-day deposits for the 24th straight auction to give way to its weekly auction of bills with the same tenor.

The central bank uses the term deposit facility and its securities to mop up excess liquidity in the financial system and guide market interest rates.

Term deposit yields declined following the downward correction in global oil prices and amid the reimposition of strict lockdown measures in Metro Manila and some provinces, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

Oil prices fell more than 1% on Tuesday after market sentiment was soothed by the reopening of the Suez Canal after being blocked by a container carrier for nearly a week, Reuters reported.

Brent crude price declined 1.2% or 84 cents to $64.14 per barrel. Meanwhile, the West Texas Intermediate ended the session with its price falling by 1.6% or $1.01 to $60.55 a barrel.

At home, Metro Manila and nearby provinces Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan are under the strictest lockdown measures from March 29 to April 4. — Luz Wendy T. Noble with Reuters

Changes to ASEAN currency swap deal take effect

CHANGES to the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) agreement took effect on Wednesday, allowing members to use their local currencies for liquidity support for swap agreements should the need arise.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a statement on Wednesday that the revised CMIM agreement will institutionalize members’ use of local currencies, apart from the dollar, for financing on a voluntary and demand-driven basis.

The facility, which was launched in 2010, is meant to service its members in times of short-term crises. The agreement includes finance ministers and central bank governors within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, and Korea, as well as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

Revisions to the pact will also hike the International Monetary Fund (IMF) De-linked portion to 40% from 30%. This means members can obtain up to 40% of their maximum borrowing amount without being subjected to IMF’s lending conditions.

Members of the CMIM agreement also agreed to address technical issues, including the revisions related to the London Interbank Offered Rate. The international benchmark interest rate used by global banks for international interbank short-term loans will be phased out by June 30, 2023 and will be replaced by secured overnight financing rate.

The Philippines’ contribution to the CMIM through the BSP is at $9.104 billion. Under the agreement, the country can borrow up to 2.5 times its commitment or around $22.76 billion. — LWTN

Peso up on month-end flows, oil’s decline

THE PESO strengthened against the greenback on Wednesday amid easing oil prices and the month-end dollar flows.

The local unit closed at P48.53 per dollar on Wednesday, appreciating by 1.5 centavos from its P48.545 finish on Tuesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso also strengthened by four centavos from its P48.49 finish on March 26. The market is closed on Thursday and Friday in view of the Holy Week holidays.

The peso opened Wednesday’s session at P48.535 per dollar. Its weakest showing was at P48.60, while its intraday best was at P48.515 against the greenback.

Dollars traded increased to $933.19 million on Wednesday from $770.67 million the day prior.

The peso appreciated on the back of easing oil prices, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

Oil prices dropped by more than 1% on Tuesday following the reopening of the Suez Canal after being blocked by a container carrier for nearly a week, Reuters reported.

Brent crude price declined 1.2% or 84 cents to $64.14 per barrel. Meanwhile, the West Texas Intermediate ended the session with its price falling by 1.6% or $1.01 to $60.55 a barrel.

Meanwhile, a trader attributed the peso’s gains to month-end dollar flows as well as preference for the local unit amid a likely quicker European inflation print. — L.W.T. Noble

Stocks decline on possible extension of strict lockdown

STOCKS declined on Wednesday after the Health department proposed a possible extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), with the government’s pandemic task force expected to meet on Saturday to decide on the matter.

The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped by 102.46 points or 1.56% to close at 6,443.09 on Wednesday. The broader all shares index also went down by 41.57 points or 1.04% to 3,924.29.

“The market plunged back to the 6,400 level and heavy foreign selling was seen after the DoH (Department of Health) stated that the Greater Manila Area should stay under ECQ for two more weeks to curb the virus count,” AB Capital Securities, Inc. Junior Equity Analyst Lance U. Soledad said in a Viber message.

Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a text message that the market continued to decline as the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections increased. Over 9,000 new COVID-19 cases have been reported daily for the past five days.

“[Also, the] inflation rate will continue to breach the 2-4% range of [the] BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) due to tight food supply and increasing oil price,” Mr. Pangan added.

Headline inflation likely settled within 4.2% to 5% in March, the BSP said on Wednesday, on higher oil prices and the peso’s depreciation. This is beyond the 2-4% annual target.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will report the March inflation data on April 6.

The BSP’s point inflation projection for March is 4.6%, which, if realized, will be slower than the 4.7% print in February but higher than the 2.5% seen in the same month a year ago.

The central bank expects inflation to average at 4.2% this year.

Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said the Holy Week trading break also prompted investors to cash out.

“Investors liquidated positions ahead of the upcoming holidays,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

All of the sectoral indices closed in the red on Wednesday. Property declined by 67.5 points or 2.05% to 3,211.92; financials went down by 25.51 points or 1.82% to finish at 1,373.83; holding firms fell by 81.94 points or 1.24% to 6,524.81; services gave up 15.66 points or 1.09% to 1,414.59; mining and oil dropped by 82.94 points or 0.96% to 8,476.93; and industrials decreased by 44.79 points or 0.51% to close at 8,609.69.

Value turnover climbed to P6.5 billion on Wednesday with 2.04 billion issues switching hands from the P4.7 billion with 1.5 billion shares traded on Tuesday.

Decliners beat advancers, 113 against 97, while 50 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling ballooned to P1.7 billion on Wednesday from the P483.34 million on Tuesday.

“We expect to see sustained weakness in the market, should the government decide to extend the ECQ, with support levels at 6,400 and 6,200,” AB Capital Securities’ Mr. Soledad said. — K.C.G. Valmonte

Sony Music starts new label for Southeast Asia

SONY Music Entertainment is offering a new platform for Southeast Asian artists: a label called Offmute.

The new pan-regional label by the global recording giant will be focusing on Southeast Asian artists. Thus, the three artists they initially signed all came from the region: Liesl-Mae from Malaysia, Mezzaluna from Indonesia, and Clara Benin from the Philippines.

“What Offmute is, is really a platform where we commit as a large company to help break artists and develop their fans across a series of countries in Southeast Asia,” said Shridhar Subramaniam, President, Strategy and Market Development, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment, during an online press conference on March 19. “This is the foundation upon which they can leapfrog onto the global platforms, and to the global stage.”

“Offmute aims to be collaborative, genre-agnostic, and even country-agnostic,” said Mr. Subramaniam. “We believe that this is the future of how things will happen, and this is really the first step towards building something of that kind.”

Clara Benin is renowned for amassing more than 25 million streams on combined music platforms Spotify and YouTube. She frequently headlines local and international music festivals, and has won multiple awards including Wishclusive Contemporary Folk Performance of the Year for her song “I Rose Up Slowly.”

Asked how she was able to continue working during the pandemic, Ms. Benin said, “I’m really privileged to have a home studio, sort of. I think I’ll be recording most of my stuff at home. That’s been working for me so far.”

Mezzaluna, a 20-year-old alternative-pop singer releasing her debut single this year through Offmute has the same situation as Ms. Benin. “I have a home studio. That’s what I’ve been doing so far.”

Liesl-Mae’s situation is different. “I do not have a home studio, but so far… I’ve been working on I’ve just been on my guitar, writing down my lyrics. For proper recordings, we haven’t actually gone to the studio. I think we will be able to as long as we just be a bit more careful.”

“Southeast Asia has always been home to some of the most creative artists in the region, and also home to some of the most passionate fans that we can find anywhere in the world,” said Mr. Subramaniam.

Follow Offmute on facebook.com/offmuteASIA and twitter.com/offmute. J.L. Garcia

Meals perfect for lockdowns

AS WE find ourselves in yet another lockdown, we begin to accept that there’s only so much one can do with yet another can of corned beef. To make things more interesting, Jolly, the brand of canned vegetables by local company FlyAce, has a list of recipes that utilizes their product lines of canned mushrooms, corn, asparagus, pimientos, and other vegetables. The kids will surely benefit from the added nutrition.

While most of the recipes from Jolly use pork or chicken, to fit in with the Lenten season one is welcome to omit the meat in the dishes and proceed with cooking. One can also substitute tofu, textured vegetable protein, or seafood instead.

The recipes come from Jolly’s website, jolly.com.ph. Meatless modifications are our own. JLG

Chopsuey

In this recipe, tofu can be used instead of the pork, or you can fry your own fish fillets and add those to the dish instead.

250 grams pork, lean, cut into thin strips (or 250 grams tofu, cut into cubes, or 500 grams white fish, deboned and sliced into fillets)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, ground

3 tablespoon canola oil

1 piece onion, sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 stalk celery, peeled and diced

1 piece carrot, peeled and cut into thin diagonal slices

1 can whole mushrooms, drained and cut in half (400 grams)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

100 ml water

2 tablespoon soy sauce

1 can asparagus cuts, drained (425 grams)

1 cup water chestnuts, drained and sliced

1 head cabbage, small, cut into wedges

Procedure:

1. Season pork with salt and pepper. If not using pork, season tofu with salt. In the case of a fish substitute, season the fish with salt and pepper, and dredge it with a little flour and cornstarch.

2. Heat one tablespoon canola oil in a pan. Stir-fry pork until it turns brown, then set it aside. For tofu and fish, simply fry them and turn once they turn brown, set aside.

3. In the same pan, add the remaining canola oil then sauté the onion, garlic, celery, carrots, and mushrooms.

4. Add cream of mushroom soup (mixed with 100 ml water), soy sauce, asparagus cuts, water chestnuts, cabbage and the fried pork/fish/tofu.

5. Simmer until vegetables are cooked.

Garlic Mushrooms

This one uses no meat at all, but it serves more as a side dish instead of a main course. To make it into a main course, simply saute some shrimps before adding in the mushrooms.

Procedure:

1 can whole mushroom, 400 grams drained

1 head garlic, minced

1 tablespoon canola oil

2 tablespoon soy sauce or liquid seasoning

Optional: 250 grams shrimp

1. Heat pan over low heat. Add canola oil and minced garlic. Saute until fragrant. If using shrimp, stir-fry the peeled shrimp first, and then add the garlic.

2. Add whole mushrooms and soy sauce. Toss until mushrooms are coated with oil and garlic.

3. Sprinkle chopped parsley.

Tips:

•Cook the mushrooms in batches so they brown properly.

•For an added but more rewarding step, simmer the shrimp heads to make a stock. Make a roux by cooking some flour in the dish, then add the shrimp stock to make a rich sauce.

Chicken and Young Corn Stirfry

One can substitute tofu for chicken in this dish; just fry the tofu beforehand to give it a firmer texture. One can serve this atop either noodles or rice.

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 teaspoons ginger, grated or minced

1 teaspoon garlic, minced

1 teaspoon chopped green onions

900 grams boneless chicken breast, sliced

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1/2 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1/4 cup chicken broth

1 piece carrot, sliced

1 1/2 cups snow peas

1 can young corn, drained (425 grams) salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

•Heat canola oil in a wok. Sauté the ginger, garlic, and green onions until fragrant.

•Add the chicken pieces. Stir-fry until it turns brown.

•Put oyster sauce, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and chicken broth into the pan. Stir and let it simmer.

•Add vegetables and young corn cuts. Cook for five to eight minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Mushroom and Tuna Pasta

A relatively healthy meal, despite its indulgent taste.

6 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 can mushrooms, Pieces and Stems 198 grams (drained and sliced)

1 cup Whole Corn Kernels

1 cup Olive Oil

1 can tuna chunks in oil, drained

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

200 grams spaghetti, cooked according to package instructions

1 bunch basil salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. In a pan over medium heat, saute garlic, mushrooms, and corn for about 1-2 minutes in olive oil.

2. Add the flaked tuna chunks and grated Parmesan cheese then cook for another one to two minutes.

3. Toss in cooked spaghetti and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

4. Remove from heat and transfer to serving plates. Top with more grated Parmesan cheese and basil. Serve with freshly-toasted garlic bread.

Colorful Frittatas

One can serve this on Easter breakfast. (What else will you do with all the unpainted Easter eggs?)

6 eggs, large

1/2 teaspoon sachet chicken powder (2.5 grams)

1 tablespoon olive oil (15 ml)

2 pieces leeks, thinly sliced (30 grams)

1/4 cup bell pepper (60 grams)

1 cup blanched and chopped pechay (bok choi), include the white part (50 grams)

1 can green peas, drained (155 grams)

1/4 cup whole corn kernel (60 grams)

1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese (60 grams)

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper (2 grams)

Procedure:

1. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and powder seasoning.

2. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium flame. Add the leeks, bell pepper, pechay, green peas, and whole corn kernels.

3. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables, swirl the pan. Add the cheese and pepper. Shake the pan occasionally to keep the edges from sticking.  Cook until the eggs are set around the edges but soft and runny in the center, about three to five minutes

4. Transfer to a plate and cut into wedges. Serve warm

Meanwhile, for snacks and for desserts, one can use these recipes for Jolly Corn Bites and Jolly Maja Mais. These recipes are vetted by actress Jolina Magdangal. In a press release from Jolly, of which she is the new face, she says, “There were instances when I didn’t know what to serve Pele (her child) anymore. And you know how kids are, they don’t like having the same thing. It’s a good thing there’s Jolly Corn!” These recipes appear on the side of a can of Jolly Corn.

Jolly Corn Bites

1 can whole corn kernels, drained

1/2 tablespoon butter

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1/2 tablespoon cheese powder

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Procedure:

•Heat butter in a pan. Add chopped garlic and saute over low heat until the garlic turns light brown.

•Add corn kernels, and toss in the cheese powder.

•Transfer in cups and top with more cheese powder and chopped parsley.

Jolly Maja Mais

2-1/2 cups coconut milk

1 can evaporated milk (370 ml)

1 cup cornstarch

1 cup sugar

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1 can whole corn kernels, drained

Procedure:

•Combine coconut milk, evaporated milk, cornstarch, sugar, cheese, and corn in a mixing bowl and stir thoroughly.

•Place in a large saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thick.

•Pour into small containers. Cool, then refrigerate until firm.

4. Top with latik or more grated cheese. (Latik is formed when coconut milk is cooked until it releases its natural oils. The remaining curds are the latik.)

Dining In/Out (03/31/21)

Ayala Malls, foodpanda team up

AYALA Malls and foodpanda have partnered up to offer hassle-free solutions for ordering and purchasing fresh meals. Ayala Malls food merchants are accessible on foodpanda’s Tap & Pick Up app option, which directs customers to their favorite food brands, as well as offer exclusive discount vouchers redeemable within the promo period of March 16 to June 30. Users can easily set curbside pickups at select DriveBuy stations in participating Ayala Malls. Initially designed to help minimize person-to-person contact when shopping for food, DriveBuy has been helping families and individuals put food on their tables without having to cook or wait in line for too long. Having started back in May 2020, DriveBuy has proved to be especially helpful for office workers on short breaks, people running errands, condo dwellers, and work-from-home professionals. Aside from the simplicity of the Tap & Pick Up app option which takes just three simple steps, customers can now get P100 off by using the promo code AYALAPICKUP which can be used until June 30. The discount is applicable with a minimum purchase of P399 via pick-up at designated Ayala Malls Drive Buy locations or via food delivery. The code can also be used as an add-on to current store promos. Customers can order from participating restaurants at 18 Ayala Malls until June 30: Alabang Town Center, Market! Market!, Manila Bay, UP Town Center, Greenbelt, Harbor Point, The District Imus, Serin, Legazpi, Glorietta, Cloverleaf, TriNoma, Vertis North, Feliz, Solenad, MarQuee Mall, Pavillion Mall, and The District Dasmariñas.

The Pen offers egg decorating kits for the kids

STAYING at home is an eggcellent eggscuse to make your Easter celebration a little eggstra special, says The Peninsula Manila. Keep the little ones busy with The Peninsula Boutique’s Egg Decoration Kits, then treat them to chocolate egg sculptures made with premium Belgian chocolate, traditional hot cross buns, a decadent upside down bunny filled with truffles, mini rabbit pralines, and more. With every P2,000 single-receipt purchase, bring home an Egg Hunt at Home Kit for an eggstravagant Easter celebration! View the menu of Easter treats at http://bit.ly/EasterOfferings. Call the hotel at 8887-2888 or order online at https://bit.ly/PenChatFacebook.

Lent and Easter exclusive from Richmonde hotels

FOR Lent, Richmonde Hotels offers an assortment of set meals featuring the ocean’s bounty which can be savored safely at home via curbside pickup or delivery. Richmonde Hotel Ortigas presents meatless platters good for the entire family. The Seafood Medley is a collection of complete meals packed in the innovative Hotbox, that can be shared by three to four persons. Choose from three pairings: steamed Lapu-Lapu with kaylan leaves and rice (P1,875), seafood kebab with Mexican rice (P1,775), and baked seafood with risotto (P1,525). These platters, that can be heated with the pull of the Hotbox’ string, are available for takeaway from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., until April 4. Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, on the other hand, features a unique “Soul Food” dish this Lenten season, complete with salad, dessert, drink, and a stuffed toy to brighten up one’s day. Order the red snapper with pistachio Bérnaise sauce and Spanish mussels wrapped in savory cabbage, and get a mesclun mix with cranberry vinaigrette and sourdough croutons, the dessert of the day, a bottle of kombucha, and an Easter teddy bear, for P995. This set is available for pickup and delivery from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., until April 3. Finally, on April 4, the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo’s The Granary serves up a dinner feast of Asian cuisine to celebrate Easter Sunday. This “Eggstraordinary Easter Buffet” features dishes like lechon roll stuffed with tamarind and lemongrass, char sui short ribs, salmon aburi in miso yuzu glaze, nasi pandan wangi, and chicken tandoori. Diners can get unlimited servings at the buffet’s many stations — from tempura and other Japanese fare, to assorted freshly grilled meats and beef misono cooked a la minute. There’s even a halo-halo station to cool off after a hearty meal. The Easter dinner buffet is priced at P1,150 per person, with a 50% discount given to children six to 12 years old. For the Lenten takeaway specials of Richmonde Hotel Ortigas and Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, one day lead time is required. To pre-order, call 8638-7777 or 0917-859-7932 or e-mail events@richmondeortigas.com for Richmonde Hotel Ortigas; and contact 8570-7777, 0917-821-0333 or fb@eastwoodrichmonde.com for Eastwood Richmonde Hotel. To make a table reservation for Richmonde Hotel Iloilo’s The Granary, or to order takeaway, call +6333-328-7888 or 0917-563-3558. Corresponding fees apply for delivery orders. To ensure that the F&B patrons remain safe, the hotels employ strict sanitation and hygiene standards and enforce stringent safety protocols in accordance with the guidelines by the local government, the IATF, the tourism and health departments as part of the hotels’ Safe Stay program.

Kuya J offers halo-halo specials at 50% off

KUYA J is helping people beat the heat with its Halo-Halo Espesyal and Ube Halo-Halo which are currently at 50% off until Easter Sunday, April 4 only. Kuya J’s Halo-halo Espesyal has paper-thin shaved ice, macapuno strings, red and green nata de coco, caramelized saba, ube jam, and glazed langka. On top of that is a thick chunk of homemade leche flan, sprinkled with corn flakes and drizzled with ube cream. For something different there is the Ube Halo-halo variant. The exclusive promo applies with pick-up of delivery via www.centraldelivery.ph. Customers can get other exclusive deals and promos when they download the Central Delivery app via the Apple Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android. This limited offer can also be availed for pick-up or take-out. For the latest deals and promos, follow @kuyajresto on Facebook and Instagram.

Eden cheese offers online recipes

THERE are many delicious meals that can be prepared with Eden cheese, and families can now find them at Eden’s Cheese Anything (http://www.cheeseanything.com/) website to try them out. The recipes are easy, delicious meals that can be cooked for the family every day, such as Eden infused Spaghetti, the Chicken Cordon Bleu, or a Grilled Cheese sandwich featuring a double dose of cheesy goodness in its filling and sauce.

Easter Sunday feast with The Plaza Catering

THE PLAZA Catering is taking orders for its Easter Sunday Feast featuring The Plaza New York-style Hot Pastrami, a legacy recipe from the 1960s, carefully smoked with a peppercorn crust. The Plaza has many other items premium products, food-to-go trays, and Go Gourmet frozen convenience food that can be enjoyed for all occasions and every day. View the full menu at 2021 THE PLAZA FOOD-TO-GO (mcusercontent.com). Delivery is free to certain areas in Metro Manila for a minimum order of P3,500. For orders and inquiries, call 7729-0001 to 03 or 0917-718-2200.

Celebrate Easter at home with Edsa Shangri-La

RELAX and enjoy an intimate Easter celebration at home with Edsa Shangri-La, Manila’s specially curated take-away Easter set menus and goodies. The Gourmet On the Move Easter specials feature creations from HEAT, Summer Palace, Senju, and The Bakeshop starting at P2,500 net, available until April 4. HEAT’s traditional Filipino Easter set with a twist featuring arroz a la valenciana, pancit sotanghon guisado, kalderetang baka, lechon belly stuffed with laing, banana heart with coconut cream, Brazo de Mercedes, and bibingka cheesecake, that comes with condiments and steamed rice. This set for five may be ordered from Gourmet On the Move at P4,500 net. Senju kitchen brings authentic flavors of Japan with two Easter sets to choose from, complete with appetizer, main course, and dessert at P5,000 net for two persons and P10,000 net for five persons. Summer Palace has a special four-course Easter feast featuring the restaurant’s bestsellers at P2,588 net per person, with a minimum of two orders for take-away or delivery. The Bakeshop’s selection of luxurious Easter hampers brimming with Easter chocolates and goodies start at P2,500 net. To learn more about Edsa Shangri-La’s Easter offerings, visit https://bit.ly/EdsaShangriLaEaster2021. For inquiries, orders, and reservations, call 8633-8888 or e-mail heat.esl@shangri-la.com.

Resorts World Manila Holy Week specials

RESORTS World Manila’s (RWM) signature restaurants are offering a variety of seafood and vegetable dishes this Lenten season. Try Silk Road’s Salmon Tandoori (P665) and Wok-Fried Garden Greens (P200). Veggie-lovers can go for Happy 9’s Wok-Fried Round Cabbage with Dried Shrimp (P448) and Stir-Fried Seasonal Vegetables (P418). Garden Wing Cafe’s Seared Salmon Fillet (P700) is also a  must-try. Enjoy these seafood and veggie dishes at home through RWM’s signature food-delivery service, Delishvery. Call +63 (2) 7908-8885 or text 0917-878-8856 for orders.

Conrad celebrates Easter with takeaway feasts

CONRAD Manila celebrates the coming Easter with Signature Takeaway Feasts and Easter Goodies conveniently available at the e-Store for takeaway and delivery. Brasserie on 3’s Easter Family Roast Takeaway Menu features ginataang tilapia in coconut milk, 48-hours US choice beef short rib (1.6 kg), and whole crispy roast suckling pig filled with aromatic rice, garlic and lemon grass; all served with roasted carrots, beets, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin, steamed rice, and buttered beans and bacon. Price starts at P5,150 net and serves a family of four to six. China Blue by Jereme Leung offers well-curated sets: Dim Sum featuring House specialty truffle mushroom bun, steamed pork and shrimp dumpling siomai, seafood bean curd sheet, and more; BBQ roast with highlights Honey-glazed BBQ pork neck, bacon scallops, half-roasted duck, to name a few, and Chef’s Specials of Homemade tofu with spinach and chicken, deep-fried spareribs with garlic, shrimp with XO sauce and seasonal vegetables, stir-fried beef with Chinese walnuts, and smoked duck with cigar spring rolls. Price starts at P2,200 net. To celebrate Easter, Conrad Manila’s Bru Coffee Bar presents a playful selection of Easter Bunnies, Eggs and more made from premium chocolates, all available to order online for takeaway or delivery. Kids and kids at heart also get to enjoy a special Easter Painting Kit Set, priced at P950 net, which includes bunny and egg molds, paint and brushes. The Easter Goodies is available until April 4. For orders, visit conradmanilaestore.whyqueue.shop, call 8833-9999 or e-mail conradmanila@conradhotels.com.

Broadway’s Diana musical to be shown first on Netflix

A NEW musical about Princess Diana will premiere on Netflix before a planned opening on Broadway in December, producers said on Tuesday, in an innovative move to promote the project.

In one of the first Broadway shows to announce a firm date following a pandemic-induced shutdown of more than a year, Diana: The Musical will have its opening night on stage on Dec. 16.

But it will be released ahead of that on Netflix on Oct. 1, the producers said, in what is thought to be the first such arrangement for a new stage show.

“The chance to share our show, first with Netflix’s global audience, and then welcoming a live audience back on Broadway, is something we’ve all been dreaming about for more than a year,” they said in a statement.

Broadway theaters shut down in mid-March 2020 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The closure now officially extends to June 2021 but the theatrical community in New York is eyeing September at the earliest for live musicals and plays to get back up and running.

Live theater, which thrives on close contacts between actors, requires backstage crews to work in cramped conditions and needs large audiences to survive financially, is expected to be the last cultural event to return after the pandemic.

Diana: The Musical was in preview just before the Broadway shutdown but had not officially opened. The Netflix presentation was filmed in 2020 with the cast.

It tells the story of Diana from a young bride through her unhappy marriage to Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne. Diana died in a Paris car crash at the age of 36 in Aug. 1997.

The music for the show was written by David Bryan, the keyboard player with American rock band Bon Jovi Reuters

Ed Sheeran must face plagiarism claim — judge

WIKIPEDIA

NEW YORK A US judge on Tuesday rejected English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s bid to dismiss one of three lawsuits accusing him of lifting his 2014 smash “Thinking Out Loud” from Marvin Gaye’s 1973 classic “Let’s Get It On.”

US District Judge Ronnie Abrams in Manhattan said Structured Asset Sales LLC, which owns one-third of “Let’s Get It On” co-writer Ed Townsend’s estate, can sue Sheeran, Sony Music Publishing, and other defendants over its April 2020 copyright registration for a studio recording of the song.

That registration “allows the court to reasonably infer the plaintiff has ownership of the 2020 copyright” and can pursue a copyright lawsuit, Mr. Abrams wrote.

Mr. Abrams nonetheless put the case on hold, citing “significant overlap” with the plaintiff’s separate lawsuit against Mr. Sheeran over a 1973 copyright based only on sheet music for Mr. Gaye’s song, and filed as a “deposit copy” with the US Copyright Office.

Structured Asset Sales, owned by investment banker David Pullman, is seeking more than $100 million in damages.

It filed the new registration one month after a federal appeals court, in a case involving Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” said copyrights in unpublished works under a 1909 federal copyright law were “defined by the deposit copy.”

The 2020 registration for “Let’s Get It On” supposedly covers “musical elements” not in the sheet music.

Lawyers for Mr. Sheeran and Sony did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mr. Abrams’ decision “doesn’t give the defendants any room to hide,” Mr. Pullman said in a phone interview. “Everyone who knows ‘Let’s Get It On’ knows the recorded version, not the sheet music.”

Mr. Pullman in 1997 made David Bowie the first musician to sell bonds backed by royalties from his catalog.

Co-writer Mr. Townsend’s heirs are also suing Mr. Sheeran over “Thinking Out Loud.” No trial date has been set.

“Thinking Out Loud’ peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in Feb. 2015.  “Let’s Get It On” hit No. 1 in September 1973. Reuters

K-pop’s BTS calls for end to rising anti-Asian racism, says it suffered racist abuse

WIKIPEDIA

SEOUL South Korea’s K-pop music group BTS called on Tuesday for an end to anti-Asian racism and said it had also suffered racist abuse which had made them feel powerless and hurt their self esteem.

BTS, the first K-pop group to ever receive a Grammy Award nomination, made the appeal in a statement posted on Twitter along with hashtags #StopAsianHate and #StopAAPIHate.

In an apparent reference to the shootings in Georgia, Atlanta, on March 16, where six out of eight victims were Asian, the group wrote: “We send our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved one.”

The shootings have stoked fears among those in the Asian-American Pacific Islander community, which has reported a spike in hate crimes since March 2020 when then-President Donald Trump began referring to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) as the “China virus.”

The seven-member BTS, which last year had three No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, also said they had faced racist abuse, including enduring expletives, being mocked for the way they look, and being asked why Asians were speaking English.

“Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks,” the statement said. “But these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem.”

“What is happening right now cannot be dissociated from our identity as Asians,” BTS wrote. The group also said it condemned violence and stands against racial discrimination.

Last year BTS donated $1 million to Black Lives Matter (BLM) in support of US protests against police brutality, prompting their fan base to raise enough to match that donation in just 25 hours. Reuters