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Panasonic presents PGH with patented nanoeTM and nanoeTM X-equipped appliances for use

(From left to right) Dr. Jonas del Rosario, PGH Spokesperson, Dr. Regina Berba, Hospital Infection Control Unit Head, Dr. Stella Manalo, PGH Deputy Director for Hospital Operations Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi, PGH Director, Mr. Masaru Toyota, Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines President and CEO, Yosuke Tanaka, Life Solutions Group Country Head Manager

Technology offers solutions that provide cleaner and fresher air for quality air for life

Panasonic, as part of its global campaign to spread advocacy for cleaner and fresher air for life, recently donated to the Philippine General Hospital – nanoeTM air purifiers, nanoeTM X generators, and air conditioners equipped with nanoeTM X that have been verified to have inhibitory effects on the novel coronavirus*0.

The turn-over was attended by Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines CEO Masaru Toyota, Life Solutions Group Country Head Yosuke Tanaka, PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, PGH Spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario, Deputy Director for Hospital Operations Dr. Stella Manalo, and the Hospital Infection Control Unit Head Dr. Regina Berba.

In his statement, the Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines CEO Masaru Toyota explained that it has always been the intention of Panasonic, with the introduction of the nanoeTM in 1997 and nanoeTM X in 2016, to provide cleaner and fresher air to improve the quality of life for everyone.

Mr. Toyota further explained, “In 2009, with the help of an independent testing organization, Panasonic verified the effect of hydroxyl radicals contained in water against bird flu and new strains of influenza, and in 2012, in collaboration with an independent testing organization in Germany, we conducted virus clearance testing that showed effectiveness of the technology against highly-resistant viruses and unknown viruses.” *1

Mr. Masaru Toyota, Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines President and CEO

“Just last year, again using an independent testing organization, Texcell*2 – France, we have further verified the inhibitory effect of Panasonic’s patented nanoeTM X technology on the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19,” he added.

The PGH activity is part of a bigger program of Panasonic in the Philippines to provide air purifying and anti-covid technology of nanoeTM X in selected sites in the National Capital Region to protect medical front liners and Filipinos in vaccination areas and to make them and the public feel safer with the theme “Bring Back the Filipino Smile” in partnership with selected local governments.

The Panasonic Philippines CEO said, “It is our aim for our medical front liners to feel they are in safer environment, and for patients to also have a sense of additional protection apart from current mandated hygiene practices like the wearing of masks, the use of face shields, and the use of hand sanitizers.”

The PGH Director Dr. Legaspi expressed his appreciation for the Panasonic efforts, “It’s turning out to be a very auspicious morning for the Philippine General Hospital, being granted this support, which improves our ability to give comfort to our healthcare workers as well as improve protection from aerosolized transmission of the virus.”

Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi, PGH Director

He added “As a research and training hospital, we in PGH welcome technologies such as these, that we will be able to test and validate as far as their effectiveness in helping us control the transmission of this virus and other infections as well.”

Masaru Toyota of Panasonic ended by lauding the efforts of everyone who have tirelessly worked hard and have been affected in the time of the pandemic, “We in Panasonic wish to begin to bring back the smiles of our heroes of the pandemic, those in the front lines against COVID-19 — all of you here at the Philippine General Hospital have been at the forefront against the pandemic since 2019. We appreciate your gallant efforts! Again, it is not just you, our front liners who will benefit from this, but also your patients who are recovering from this disease. You all deserve to feel safer and more secure to smile again.”

For more information on Panasonic and its patented technologies, please visit https://www.panasonic.com/ph/nanoe

___________________________________________________

Notes:

*0: based on the Texcell, global contract research organization, verified the inhibitory effect of the nanoe™ X technology with the benefits of hydroxyl radicals on adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) placed in 45L box. Over 99.99% of adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) activity was inhibited within 2 hours.

Note: This verification was designed to generate basic research data on the effects of nanoe™ X on the novel coronavirus in laboratory conditions different from those found in living spaces. It was not designed to evaluate product performance.

 *1: Main releases on verification cases

– May 12, 2009：Positive effects of charged water particles on viruses, bacteria, and agricultural chemicals have been verified.

– October 20, 2009： The new influenza virus inhibition effect of charged water particles has been verified.

– February 20, 2012：Suppression effect of charged water particles on pet-related allergens, bacteria, fungi, and viruses have been verified.

– January 16, 2014：Nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles effectively break down PM2.5 components and inhibits growth of fungi attached to Yellow Sand.  

*2: Texcell is a global contract research organization that specializes in viral testings, viral clearance, immunoprofiling and R&D or GMP cell banking, for your R&D, GClP, GLP and GMP projects.

With more than 30 years of experience and roots within the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Texcell has a long-recognized expertise in viral testing with a broad range of protocols for the detection of adventitious agents.

Texcell is the first spin-off of the Pasteur institute of Paris created in 1997.

 

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PHL raises $1.6B via retail dollar bonds

REUTERS

THE GOVERNMENT raised $1.593 billion (P80.91 billion) from its first-ever onshore retail dollar bond (RDB) sale last week, as it sought to support the widening budget deficit, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told reporters over the weekend that the BTr closed its two-week offering of five-year and 10-year RDBs on Friday, awarding nearly four times as much as the initial $400-million target amid strong investor participation via electronic channels.

“Strong outcome could be attributed to platform channels used to disseminate far and wide information on RDB including access with our BTr mobile app and convenient and user-friendly investing apps like Bonds.ph, OF Bank app, First Metro Securities app and BTr ordering platform,” National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said in a Viber message on Sunday.

More than half or $809.2 million worth of RDBs were sold through the digital channels in 520 transactions, according to Mr. Dominguez, which meant there was $1,500 worth of placements per online transaction.

“Of this volume of digital placements, roughly 40% or $329,400 are PesoClear placements. We were also able to reach Filipinos from more than 30 countries for the RDBs, including the Cayman Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Cyprus to name some,” the Finance chief said, citing a report from the Treasury.

Ms. De Leon said the higher-than-market rates offered by RDBs also helped attract small investors, lifting the overall amount raised during its maiden sale. No other details were available.

Proceeds of the fundraising activity will be used to fund the government’s recovery and resilience programs, as well as big-ticket infrastructure projects.

During the price-setting auction on Sept. 15, the Treasury raised an initial $866.2 million, broken down into $551.8 million in five-year RDBs and $314.4 million via the 10-year dollar-denominated notes.

The five-year bonds, which will mature in October 2026, had a coupon rate of 1.375%, while the 10-year bonds due in October 2031 fetched a 2.25% coupon.

The offer ran from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1. The RDBs were sold at a minimum investment of $300 (P15,000), with increments of $100 thereafter.

The bonds will be settled on Oct. 8 and will be listed and traded on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

The state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and Development Bank of the Philippines served as the joint lead issue managers for the issuance, along with BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp., SB Capital Investment Corp., Standard Chartered Bank and UnionBank of the Philippines.

The last time the BTr offered onshore dollar-denominated bonds was in December 2012, when it offered the papers to institutional investors only, raising $500 million in 10.5-year bonds from $1.7 billion in total bids.

The government aims to raise P3 trillion this year from local and foreign sources to plug its budget deficit seen to hit 9.3% of overall economic output. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Inflation likely reached 5% in Sept. — poll

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS
Oil companies have raised pump prices, as crude oil prices continue to surge in global markets. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

By Luz Wendy T. Noble, Reporter

INFLATION likely quickened beyond the central bank’s target in September, as prices of food and utilities continued to surge, according to analysts.

A BusinessWorld poll of 17 analysts yielded a median estimate of 5% for the consumer price index, near the low end of the 4.8%-5.6% estimate given by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

If realized, headline inflation will breach the BSP’s 2-4% target range for the second straight month.

Analysts’ September 2021 inflation rate estimates

This will also be faster than the 4.9% print in August and the 2.3% a year earlier. It will also mark the quickest rise since the 5.1% in December 2018.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will report September inflation data on Oct. 5.

ING Bank N.V. Manila Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said this can be attributed to the faster rate of increase in the prices of food staples, and the “unfavorable base effect” as inflation was relatively slow in the same month a year ago.

“The heavy-weight food sub-sector will remain the key driver for the recent inflation breach with fish, meat and vegetables all likely posting double-digit inflation. Adverse weather conditions and the ongoing African Swine Fever affected supply of the important food items for the month,” Mr. Mapa said.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila, Jr. said they expect quicker inflation this year partly due to slower-than-expected arrival of pork imports.

Latest data from the Department of Agriculture showed agricultural losses from last month’s typhoons reached P1.26 billion and P19.21 million, respectively.

Adding to the upside risk is the increase in prices of production inputs, including feeds for livestock, Ateneo de Manila University economist Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes said.

Security Bank Corp. Chief Economist Robert Dan J. Roces cited the hike in electricity and pump prices as a factor that could have driven the spike in inflation last month.

He noted that Manila Electric Co. has been raising power rates for the past six months. The utility firm increased the power rates for typical households by P0.1055 to P9.1091 per kilowatt-hour in September, citing higher generation charges.

“Oil firms have been adjusting their pump prices every week to reflect the upward movements in the world oil market. These may have caused the utilities and transport baskets to accelerate by 0.8% and 0.1% month on month, respectively,” Mr. Roces added.

Data from the Energy department showed that prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene increased year to date by P15.10, P12.95, and P10.65 per liter, respectively, as of Sept. 28.

Another factor for the likely faster inflation in September was the continued weakness of the peso, which probably caused pricier imports, Bank of the Philippine Islands Lead Economist Emilio S. Neri, Jr. said.

“Higher inflation from a weaker peso could further boost inflationary expectations and lead to more cautious spending behavior,” he said.

The peso was trading at around P50 to P51 per dollar last month. It closed at P51 on Sept. 30, which was its weakest trading finish since it ended at P51.07 on March 26, 2020.

Mr. Dakila has earlier said the BSP expects inflation to breach 5% in September before returning the target range by November this year.

The Monetary Board in their Sept. 23 policy review has raised the inflation forecast to 4.4% from 4.1% previously.

Despite this, the BSP has kept interest rates unchanged as it keeps an accommodative policy to support economic recovery.

“We think the central bank maintains its accommodative stance for now, looking through the supply-driven spikes as non-monetary measures are more suited to deal with these spikes,” Standard Chartered Bank economist Jonathan Koh said.

“The country’s economic recovery is uncertain. We keep our baseline view that the reverse repurchase rate will stay at 2% until a 25-basis-point rate hike at the end of the third quarter of 2022,” said Alvin Joseph A. Arogo, vice-president and head of equity research division at Philippine National Bank.

The government has downwardly revised its full-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth target to 4-5% from 6-7% previously.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno has said the economy may return to its pre-pandemic level by the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023.

For her part, Moody’s Analytics Senior Asia-Pacific Economist Katrina Ell said the BSP might opt for a rate hike sooner if inflation remains elevated.

“Ideally, monetary policy would remain on hold and firmly accommodative until late next year to support the recovery, but the BSP may be forced to act earlier if inflation does not cool,” Ms. Ell said, noting their baseline expectation is for the first rate hike to happen by the second half of 2022.

The BSP has two more policy reviews scheduled this year set on Nov. 18 and Dec. 16.

Gross borrowings hit P2.4T

BW FILE PHOTO

GROSS BORROWINGS by the National Government reached P2.387 trillion in the first eight months of the year as it continued to raise funds for the pandemic response, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed.

Based on preliminary data from the BTr, the eight-month borrowings were 3.52% smaller compared with the P2.47 trillion logged in the January-August period last year. The government sold retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) in August 2020.

In August alone, the BTr incurred P117.74 billion in new debts, down by 81% from the P612.913 billion in the same month last year, following the P516-billion RTB issuance in the same month a year ago. This was also 65% smaller when compared with P337.15 billion recorded in July.

Local borrowings accounted for 85.75% of the total.

Domestic borrowings stood at P100.967 billion in August, slumping by 82.7% from P584.4 billion a year ago. Month on month, new local debts also declined by 44% from P180.36 billion in July.

During the month, the government raised P132 billion via the weekly offering of Treasury bonds (T-bonds). This was partly offset by the P31 billion in net issuance of Treasury bills (T-bills).

Excluding the P171-million amortization, net domestic borrowings hit P100.796 billion in August.

Meanwhile, gross external borrowings stood at P16.77 billion in August, dropping 41.2% from P28.54 billion recorded a year ago and much smaller than the P156.79 billion in July.

The government obtained P12.17 billion in new foreign project loans in August, and another P4.6 billion via program loans.

It also made P50.98 billion in amortization payments. This resulted in a net redemption worth P34.21 billion in August.

Year to date, the government’s new debt accounted for 80% of the P3-trillion borrowing plan for the entire year. This consisted of 81% in domestic debt and 19% in foreign loans as the state prefers sourcing the majority of its debt from the local market to minimize external risks and foreign-currency fluctuations.

Gross domestic borrowings dipped 1.6% to P1.929 trillion during the January to August period. This was made up of P911.86 billion in T-bonds, P463.3 billion in RTBs, P540 billion in short-term borrowings from the central bank, and P14 billion in T-bills.

Net borrowings for the period reached P1.876 trillion, after the BTr repaid P405.4 billion of its maturing obligations.

Gross external borrowings for the eight-month period fell by 10% to P458.51 billion from P509.7 billion a year ago.

The Treasury raised P146.17 billion from global bonds, P121.97 billion from euro-denominated notes, and P24.19 billion in Japanese yen-denominated securities. It also incurred P99.69 billion in program loans, and P66.5 billion in project loans.

The government repaid P212.52 billion of its outstanding foreign debt so far, resulting in P245.99 billion in net external borrowings for the period.

The government borrows from local and foreign sources to plug a budget deficit seen to hit 9.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year.

The state’s outstanding debt surged 21% to P11.64 trillion at the end of August.

Economic managers are planning to scale down borrowings starting next year as part of its debt consolidation plan.

The debt stock is projected to hit 59.1% of GDP by yearend and peak at 60.8% in 2022, before easing to 60.7% in 2023 and to 59.7% in 2024. — Beatrice M. Laforga

SEC flags two more entities’ unlicensed schemes

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an advisory against unregistered entities called E-Comm Shares and Pogi Breeds International for their respective unlicensed investment programs.

The commission warned the public not to invest or to stop investing in the schemes offered by the entities.

E-Comm Shares is said to be offering a 3% daily income to investors buying and selling shares through their platform.

Led by a certain William Thomas, the entity allegedly aims to “produce 1,000 millionaires” through its program.

The SEC said E-Comm is luring investors through its daily income rate offering which may be earned by investors “by just logging to his/her account and clicking the sell button for a total of 60 days.”

It also offers a direct referral bonus or “affiliate rewards” for its recruitment schemes.

E-Comm Shares is one of the entities flagged by the SEC in its advisories in September, which totaled 15 advisories. The commission also flagged Pogi Breeds International, which offers a “co-partnership program” for clients playing the Axie Infinity game.

E-Comm Shares and Pogi Breeds International are not registered with the commission as a corporation or as a partnership and both entities lack the necessary registration or license to solicit investments from the public.

Pogi Breeds is said to be “a group of persons claiming to be using its client’s money in buying, breeding Axies, and playing the Axie Infinity game.” It also goes by Pogi Breeds Int’l or CoPartners Pogibreeds, said to be led by Gino Mendoza or Nigo Tekashii.

Pogi Breeds’ “co-partnership program” lets investors put in P5,000 up to P250,000, promising profits of P100 to P25,000 daily or a daily profit of 2% or 10% or weekly earnings for 45 days, among other offers such as its contract plan income.

“Pogi Breeds assures its co-partners that the capital will be returned after 59 days or at the end of the contract,” the SEC said, adding that Pogi Breeds’ clients may request for their profit and cash out on Mondays and Thursdays.

The SEC also reminded the public that the play-to-earn game Axie Infinity and its developer Sky Mavis are not registered nor are licensed to do business in the Philippines. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Maynilad customers’ bills set to go down in fourth quarter

CUSTOMERS of west zone water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. will see a reduction in their water bills for the fourth quarter due to rate adjustments.

In a notice, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said Board Resolution No. 2021-098-RO granted Maynilad a foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA) of -0.55% of its average basic charge of P36.24 per cubic meter (/cu.m.), equivalent to an average refund of 20 centavos/cu.m.

The said board resolution was recommended by the MWSS Regulatory Office.

“This adjustment shall be effective 15 days after publication, or on Oct. 18, 2021,” the notice said.

The change in FCDA will result in a reduction of 18 centavos, 69 centavos, and P1.40 in the monthly water bills of residential customers using 10 cu.m., 20 cu.m., and 30 cu.m., respectively.

Meanwhile, Manila Water Co., Inc. Corporate Communications Head Dittie Galang said in a mobile phone message that the east zone water concessionaire had yet to receive the board resolution detailing its own approved FCDA for the fourth quarter.

FCDA is a quarterly reviewed tariff mechanism that allows water concessionaires to regain losses or return gains as a result of the movement in foreign exchange rates. The water providers pay foreign currency-denominated concession fees to MWSS, as well as loans that are used to fund projects to expand and improve water and sewerage services.

However, the revised concession agreements signed earlier in the year by Manila Water and Maynilad with the government no longer allow the implementation of the FCDA and the recovery of corporate income taxes from customers.

Consumers will still have to wait as Manila Water said in a recent stock exchange disclosure that the effectivity of its revised concession agreement had been moved to “no later than Nov. 18, 2021” after it was originally scheduled to take effect on Sept. 30.

The water provider said the move was meant to harmonize the effectivity date of its revised agreement with that of Maynilad, which was also given a deadline of Nov. 18.

Manila Water provides water and wastewater services in the eastern part of Metro Manila, which includes Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, portions of Quezon City and Manila, and Rizal province.

Meanwhile, Maynilad supplies water to customers in Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, Manila, Makati, and Quezon City, as well as parts of Cavite province including Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which has a majority stake in Maynilad, is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Solar Philippines ventures into developing ‘energy zone’ areas

SOLAR Philippines has formed a new business called Solar Energy Zones, Inc. (SEZ) which seeks to develop areas conducive to hosting solar facilities for other power companies.

In an e-mailed statement over the weekend, the renewable energy (RE) firm said SEZ is in the process of finalizing agreements covering 10,000 hectares to develop solar energy zones, which will be mostly located near its existing power projects in Batangas, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija.

SEZ will be separate from the group’s power plant business. It aims to address the scarcity of new sites for solar technologies amid increasing demand.

“Our aim is no longer to compete with the country’s power companies, but to enable them to build projects, to ensure that solar soon becomes the largest source of new energy in the Philippines,” said Solar Philippines Founder Leandro L. Leviste.

“Our solar energy zones will make it easy for any of these power companies that decide to build solar to locate in these zones and start construction that same year,” he added.

Solar Philippines said the solar energy zones are inspired by India’s solar parks where companies co-locate solar projects in sites with common facilities that benefit from economies of scale. This arrangement is said to help India lower the renewable energy technology’s barriers to entry.

In the coming months, Solar Philippines is set to announce projects from power firms which will be built in the said zones over the next five years. It claimed that the capacity of these will increase the share of solar in the country’s power generation mix.

Previously, the Energy department announced Solar Philippines Retail Electricity, Inc., a subsidiary of Solar Philippines, as the 14th participant of the government’s green energy option program (GEOP).

GEOP allows consumers using at least 100 kilowatts of power to source RE from an accredited retail electricity supplier. — Angelica Y. Yang

Paris Fashion Week

HERMES — REUTERS

Balmain designer’s anniversary, Hermes in a hangar, YSL goes to Eiffel Tower, Dior chooses color

PARIS —  French fashion house Balmain celebrated the 10th anniversary of creative director Olivier Rousteing’s tenure with a catwalk show featuring a host of celebrity models including Naomi Campbell, former French First Lady Carla Bruni, Milla Jovovich and Natalia Vodianova.

Models strutted down the stage of a packed music hall on the Seine River in deconstructed garments slit to show patches of bare skin, draped with chains and layered with bold-shouldered jackets or trench coats that swept the floor.

At the end of the show, the designer took his bow before the cheering crowd, flanked by over a dozen models wearing fanciful dresses coated in sequins.

The label hosted thousands of fans at the hall for a two-day festival that included performances from Jesse Jo Stark, Doja Cat and Franz Ferdinand.

The French capital is hosting the final stretch of a month of global industry events, which have marked the return of splashy launch parties and celebrity-packed runway shows to New York, London and Milan.

Most luxury houses put their in-person shows — mainstays of the annual fashion calendar — on pause during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With infection rates slowing and restrictions easing in Europe, dozens of labels have been holding in-person fashion shows throughout the fashion week, which runs through Oct. 5.

Showgoers at the Balmain festival could buy food and drinks as well as branded merchandise including sneakers priced at 850 euros ($986) and bags of hair cosmetics.

HERMES
French luxury group Hermes International (HRMS.PA) shuttled the fashion press to an airport on the outskirts of Paris for its spring ready-to-wear catwalk show, sending fitted leather crop tops, silky dresses and relaxed trousers down a circular catwalk set up in a hangar.

Robot cameras whizzed around the runway and dropped from the ceiling, filming the models as they marched past the audience seated on a platform at the center of the space.

Hermes women’s ready-to-wear creative director Nadege Vanhee-Cybulki added modern touches to her feminine silhouettes, with paper-bag waists on long skirts and trousers.

In a nod to the house’s tradition as a saddlery maker, tops and jackets were embellished with discrete leather buckles and studs, while yellow jackets in leather brightened the muted palette of neutral colors.

For the finale, the bronze-hued panels serving as a backdrop rolled to the side, offering an open view on the runway of the Bourget airport, a hub for private jets.

The models lined up and were facing the audience when an airplane landed.

YSL
French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent returned to the runway for an in-person fashion show under the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday, sending models down a catwalk after dusk with the glittering monument as a backdrop.

For the first show of the Kering-owned label on its home turf in over a year and a half, Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello drew up a lineup of skin tight bodysuits and sharply tailored eveningwear, bringing extra glamor to Paris Fashion Week.

Bare-backed models with chunky, gold bracelets strode on spiky-heeled shoes in front of a wall of strobe lights, which erupted into a waterfall for the finale, whipping up spray and wind that sent guests in the front row ducking for protection.

At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic last year, the brand exited the official calendar of Paris fashion shows and set off on its own schedule, taking its audience to remote settings through the screen, filming models on steep sand dunes in one instance, and in a barren Arctic setting with looming icebergs for another.

DIOR
Christian Dior showcased a burst of colorful 1960s- and 1970s-flavored mini dresses as crowds returned to its hometown show at the Paris fashion week.

Guests showing health passes on their mobile phones had their temperatures checked and were waved in by guards at the marquee sited in the Tuileries Gardens where onlookers gathered to watch the stream of arrivals, which included K-pop star Jisoo.

“During the pandemic crisis, we did a lot of film video. I think it’s not the same, I think it’s completely different because fashion is something that you do on a stage,” Maria Grazia Chiuri, womenswear designer for the LVMH-owned label, said in an interview.

The designer drew on the house’s collections under the creative leadership of Marc Bohan, who was known for modernizing styles by loosening silhouettes in the 1960s and 1970s. Ms. Chiuri swapped Dior’s signature cinched Bar jackets for short, boxy cuts, rounding the shoulders and pairing them with miniskirts and bermuda shorts. She wove in technical fabrics like scuba material, which added a sporty flair to the lineup of color-blocked looks matching tailored coats with dresses.

“I bring this reference in the silhouette, in the bold color and also it’s very graphic,” said Ms. Chiuri.

The designer retooled go-go boots and low-heeled Mary Janes from the era, offering them in hot pink and bright orange, with laces and white, rubber soles.

Patterns included neon leopard prints and pastel camouflage as well as animal images that were blown up and applied with embroidery techniques. Logos were stamped on the backs of silky boxing uniforms in emerald green and electric blue.

Models in bouncing pony-tails circled round a runway set resembling a board game, decorated with artwork from Rome-based artist Anna Paparatti that broadcast messages infused with irony, like “The game of nonsense.”

“The essence of fashion is also a game, people use clothes to perform in, to describe themselves, to be fun,” said Ms. Chiuri. — Reuters

3M Philippines expands hiring

3M Philippines plans to hire a hundred more employees by the end of the year as the global company expands its service center in the country, the local unit’s top official said.

The company has 750 employees in its shared service center and another 150 in its sales and marketing arm, 3M Philippines Country Leader Reggie C. Pulumbarit said.

“By yearend, we do expect that to breach 1,000,” he said in a virtual interview on Thursday.

Most of the additional employees will be in the global service center, which handles internal finance, human resources, and information technology requirements for the international firm.

“We’ve managed to grow 30% in headcount over the last one and a half years. We did invite 200 plus [employees] so far to join the company,” he said.

Part of it is due to the availability of talent in the Philippines and the company’s aim of scaling up certain services to improve its business strategy, he added.

Globally, 3M Company sales went up 24.7% year on year to $8.9 billion in the second quarter after it declined 12.2% in the same three-month period in 2020 amid the global economic slowdown, according to its earnings reports.

Recent growth is largely driven by the resumption of manufacturing activity since the start of the pandemic.

“We do foresee that growth will continue over the coming period,” Mr. Pulumbarit said.

The local unit will have discussions with employees on hybrid remote and on-site work measures. As a result, Mr. Pulumbarit noted that the company is assessing “transforming” its office rather than reducing or expanding office workspaces while the headcount grows. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Auto Nation Group presents all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class

For now, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will come in a single trim — the S 500 4Matic Long Wheelbase AMG Line — and cost P17.89 million. The brand declares it’s about interpreting the design philosophy of “sensual purity” in “its most modern form.”

By Kap Maceda Aguila

MERCEDES-BENZ is out to reclaim its throne in the ultra-luxury segment through its flagship line. Since its introduction in 1972, “S” has epitomized luxury, and continuously sought to raise the bar over seven head-turning generations. The S-Class first appeared in the Philippines in 2005.

And now, the latest iteration (W223), first debuting worldwide last year, is finally here.

Auto Nation Group, Inc. (ANG), the official importer and distributor of the Stuttgart-headquartered brand, last week presented online the latest iteration of the executive vehicle, at one time called Sonderklasse. The digital launch event was attended by officials led by ANG President Felix Ang, ANG Chief Operating Officer Frankie Ang, and Mercedes-Benz Cars Head of Daimler for South East Asia II Region Sagree Sardien.

“The new S-Class has undergone the most extensive refinement process in the history of Mercedes-Benz. The brand did to the new S-Class what it does best — putting the customers in the center. It can now be experienced with all the senses — seeing, feeling, hearing, and smelling — while offering impressive innovations in the areas of driver assistance, protection, and interaction,” said Frankie Ang in a release.

The S-Class heralds a slew of technological advancements as it becomes a true showpiece of cutting-edge features. Mercedes-Benz also reports that the vehicle has physically grown — “with a long bonnet, short overhang, long wheelbase, flowing C-Pillar and balanced rear overhang, the S-Class is designed as a classical sedan with perfect proportions.” It gets 21-inch multi-spoke AMG wheels. The familiar three-pointed star takes its place above the grille.

The German vehicle maker declares it’s about interpreting the design philosophy of “sensual purity” in “its most modern form.” Its so-called Digital Light Headlamps have a “three-dot design,” featuring more than one million pixels per headlamp for optimum illumination.

Driving the S-Class is a potent three-liter, in-line six engine with 4Matic all-wheel drive. Complemented by an EQ Boost mild-hybrid system, it generates 435hp and 520Nm. The company insists this motivation is “more than enough (for the S-Class) to plow through the streets of the metro, and cruise along on gentle long drives.” The power plant is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission conveniently controlled by a Direct Select gear lever ergonomically located just behind the steering wheel. The driver can select from five different driving modes through the Dynamic Select switch. Meanwhile, the Airmatic air suspension system allows the S-Class to “react sensitively to the unevenness of the roads.”

Seamless door handles are a completely new parlor trick. They usually are flush with the door panels, then automatically extend when the owner approaches the car and presses the key fob, and retracts when the doors are locked. In the rear, the car receives two-piece horizontal taillamps, with 3D-like display, sequential indicator lamps, two visible exhaust tail tips, and a rear diffuser.

A higher version of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), which first rolled out in the A-Class, makes an appearance in the S-Class. Passengers at the back will be treated to a high-end rear entertainment system and two fully integrated 11.6-inch touch displays with a brilliant graphic quality. The infotainment system finds expression through a Burmester 3D surround sound system with 15 speakers promising a total system output of 710 watts.

Rear occupants can watch a movie, browse the internet, or simply relax. Touch controls are possible through the MBUX-enabled rear tablet in the armrest; or the occupant can prompt the system by saying “Hey Mercedes.” It can even give the passenger a massage. For added convenience, a refrigerated compartment is located at the center of the armrest.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class also features Active Ambient Lighting which lets each passenger tailor the illumination on inconspicuous light strips in the instrument panel, which continue along the doors, and into the rear. The German marque said that the S-Class cabin’s design is inspired by a yacht — with large 12.3-inch OLED touchscreen as its centerpiece of the S-Class cockpit.

The car can recognize the fingerprint and voice of the driver — and even remember personal settings. The driving experience promises to be much safer and convenient through a slew of driver assistance systems such as the Active Distance Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Brake Assist, Active Parking Assist, and others “that make for a semi-autonomous driving experience for the driver. Everything is about minimalism and ease of use.”

For safety, it gets an intelligent rear seat air bag for frontal impacts, and monitors the vehicle’s surroundings through a new proprietary Pre-Safe Impulse System. Amid the pandemic, the new S-Class levels protection with its whole-cabin air filtration, ionization, and “fragrancing” which allow passengers to breathe in clean and fragrant air.

ANG Assistant Vice-President for Marketing Rhomel Franco said 556 units of the S-Class have been sold locally in the past, and expressed confidence that there will still be takers despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Ms. Sardien mirrored the confidence, saying that 36,000 units of the new model have so far been delivered to customers worldwide. “I’m extremely positive in the Philippines, and that this model will prosper,” she underscored.

For now, a sole trim, the S 500 4Matic Long Wheelbase AMG Line, will be offered with a sticker price of P17.89 million. The export of other variants and power trains will be explored in the future, said ANG Senior Manager for Product and Market Planning Benjie Bautista.

The new S-Class is available for viewing in all Mercedes-Benz Dealerships: Mercedes-Benz EDSA-Greenhills (02) 8784-5001 / 0939-937-2009, Mercedes-Benz Bonifacio Global City (02) 8815-7777 / 0920-9740-4575, Mercedes-Benz Alabang (02) 8553-6334 / 0905-435-2840, and Mercedes-Benz Cebu (32) 260 3333 / 0917-718-2369. Visit the online showroom at www.mercedes-benz.ph for more details.

Combining art and fashion

PORTRAIT of an Old Soul by Edgar San Diego — FACEBOOK.COM/EDGARSANDIEGOFASHIONANDARTS

Designer Edgar San Diego puts down the needle and picks up a paintbrush

AN upcoming exhibit combines art and fashion, reflected in paintings of clothed figures by fashion designer Edgar San Diego.

The exhibit, titled “Baro’t Saya: Tuwa at Ligaya,” is slated to run from Oct. 9 to 15 at the ground level of the SM Mega Fashion Hall.

In a statement, the designer explained why he turned from fashion to painting. “I turned 60 last March 13, 2020. And then after two days, the lockdown was imposed. I thought that it was only going to last for a month or two. So, to keep me away from boredom, I cleaned the house, reorganized my cabinets and did things that I neglected when I was busy with my dress shop. However, when I ran out of things to fix, I decided to pick up my brushes and called my canvas supplier. Luckily, she was open all the time to accept my orders. What I did was to order an extra four to six canvases which eventually gave me no excuse to stop.”

In a Facebook message, Mr. San Diego said, “From then on, I kept on painting. I gave myself a quota to finish one [painting] every Friday and post it on Facebook and Instagram to know how people will react to it or see their comments. Aside from the many likes and favorable comments I’d get from my posts, some of my friends started to buy my artworks.”

It seems as if a skill had spontaneously been born under lockdown, just like many who have learned to cook or bake during the pandemic. But that is not really the case.

It turns out that painting was a long-cherished ambition.

“I finished Fine Arts, major in Advertising in UST and my two favorite subjects then were fashion and painting,” the designer explained. “My mother had a neighborhood dress shop when I was young and when I graduated, she allowed me to take over and expand it. If not for that, I could have gone straight to painting. But I remember my father’s apprehensions regarding my course — he said that I might just be a poor painter who sells my paintings on the street for my next meal. That’s why painting was never an option for me then. Now that I have more time in my hands, I’ll do something that I’m longing to do, paint!”

He used to hand-paint on formal clothes for established designers during his UST Fine Arts days. He was also a display-window artist at the Plaza Fashion Mart where he had a chance to meet fashion directors, models, and more designers whom he eventually worked with after college.

In his career, Mr. San Diego has promoted Philippine fashion and culture through fashion shows with Filipino communities in New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Atlanta, Missouri, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, and London, and his solo gala fashion shows were also presented in Manila, Honolulu, Jakarta and Melbourne.

Fashion design was not his only world — costumes allowed for a more flamboyant expression. Among many milestones, he won the Grand Prix Best Costume Award in the Carnival in Rio in Manila, which brought him to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1990. He is also a five-time winner of the Annual Flores de Mayo at The Manila Hotel. He has designed costumes for several theater companies including Repertory Philippines (The Wizard of Oz, M Butterfly, among others), Trumpets (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Little Mermaid), and Newport Theater (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) and has worked on movies.

Mr. San Diego discussed the differences between making art with fabric, and now, with paint — one is a more collaborative pursuit, the other, solitary. “Couture starts from choosing the right fabric and color, then after, the long process of designing, pattern making, cutting, sewing, fitting, finishing with embellishments follows. Each stage of the process involves skilled workers such as a pattern maker, cutters, sewers, finishers, etc.,” he said. “Unlike in painting, you’re on your own from start to finish. Some painters even stretch their own canvases on wooden frames. Hence, business-wise, with painting, the overhead is low but there are more hits and misses since you still have to wait for buyers. Couture pieces are always made to order.”

Still, there are similarities in the process. “In painting, just like in couture, you have to find your own niche. Every artist or designer have their own style, color palette, story whims, etc. Once you develop it, you shall create your market.”

“The fashion industry is at its low point now,” he said of life during the COVID-10 pandemic. “Businessmen like me will have to diversify and reinvent ourselves. For now, we try to engage to other avenues that will require less or zero man power, home- based and with less capital such as online food and plant business,” he said.

Mr. San Diego’s exhibit is themed a “Tribute of Joy to the Filipina and her Traditional Dress amidst the Pandemic,” and the paintings feature clothed figures. Still, his mind turns to the catwalk. “I already imagine my paintings on my couture collection. Especially with today’s technology. They can reproduce, enlarge and print my paintings on fabrics. I’d love to explore that.

“After my exhibit I’d like to develop some new looks in my paintings but still keeping the Filipiñana theme.”

A percentage of the sales from “Baro’t Saya, Tuwa at Ligaya” will be donated to the Special Services of Jose Reyes Medical Center through Rheez Chua. —  Joseph L. Garcia

Smart launches commercial 5G standalone network in Makati

SMART Communications, Inc., the wireless arm of PLDT, Inc., has fired up its commercial 5G (fifth-generation) standalone sites in Makati City, its chief executive officer said.

“With the first batch of our 5G SA sites now fully operational, we are starting to see the true capabilities of 5G which will play a critical role in the advancement of massive IoT (Internet of Things), healthcare and smart cities,” PLDT and Smart Communications President and Chief Executive Officer Alfredo S. Panlilio said in a statement over the weekend.

The company said that with 5G standalone (SA), it can soon offer Voice over New Radio (VoNR), or a call service that fully utilizes 5G SA network, as well as network slicing capabilities.

“Smart made its first successful VoNR call as early as June this year at the Technolab in Smart Tower in Makati City,” it noted.

5G SA provides super-fast response times and faster access to higher data rates.

The faster connectivity enabled by 5G SA is seen to help drive the future-readiness of telco network, Smart said.

It should also create new business opportunities and enable new consumer services.

“Customers will be able to project everything on any surface or use Augmented Reality (AR) glasses to superimpose images, videos, and information right in front of them. Adding holographic projectors, they will be able to bring people, objects and even pets right next to them,” the company said.

In August 2019, Smart made the first 5G standalone (5G SA) video call — or a connection relying solely on “pure 5G” for data transmission — in Southeast Asia using Nokia’s equipment.

“5G SA… enables industrial automation, autonomous mobile robotics deployment, safe remote crane operations, fast response in gaming and interactive video streaming, among others. We are creating opportunities for the Filipino enterprises to compete in the global arena,” said Mario G. Tamayo, head of technology at PLDT and Smart.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group. — Arjay L. Balinbin

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