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Transpacific’s franchise clears final reading

THE House of Representatives approved on final reading a bill extending the franchise of Transpacific Broadband Group International, Inc. for another 25 years.

During a plenary session on Wednesday, the lawmakers approved House Bill 8551, which grants the renewal of Transpacific’s franchise.

If enacted into law, Transpacific will be allowed “to construct, install, establish, maintain and operate for commercial purposes and in the public interest, communications systems for the reception and transmissions of messages, such as but not limited to voice, audio, data, facsimile, video, and such other radio, write, satellite, and other means” for another 25 years.

Transpacific must secure a Certificate of Public Convenience and other required permits and licenses from the National Telecommunications Commission in relation to the operation of its telecommunication systems and facilities.

In terms of establishing or maintaining poles and other conductors, Transpacific will need to secure approval and permit from the Department of Public Works and Highways or the local government units.

The company should also offer its common stocks to at least 30% of Filipino citizens in any securities exchange or through any methods allowed by law.

Transpacific is a publicly listed company established in 1995 and is registered under the Clark Special Economic Zone. — Gillian M. Cortez

Larry Flynt, porn publisher and free speech activist, 78

HUSTLER magazine publisher Larry Flynt, Jr. — PHOTO BY GLENN FRANCIS OF PACIFICPRODIGITAL VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

LOS ANGELES — Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, Jr., the self-described “smut peddler who cares,” who used his pornography empire and flair for the outrageous to push the limits of free speech, has died at the age of 78, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said Mr. Flynt’s brother Jimmy Flynt confirmed his death but did not cite a specific cause. Mr. Flynt suffered from a variety of health problems since a 1978 assassination attempt that left him a paraplegic.

Mr. Flynt loved to aggravate his critics with stunts such as wearing a diaper made from an American flag to court and was involved in a number of legal battles.

In the most famous, the US Supreme Court made an important First Amendment ruling in favor of Mr. Flynt in a libel battle with evangelist Jerry Falwell. Mr. Flynt had published a fake ad in Hustler which depicted Falwell saying his first sexual encounter had been with his mother in an outhouse. Falwell sued for $50 million and won a lower court ruling but in 1988 the Supreme Court said the ad was a parody and protected by free speech standards.

In his heyday, Mr. Flynt lived a life that could have made Caligula blush. He wrote in his autobiography that his first sexual experience was with a chicken and told of having sex every four or five hours during a workday. After he was paralyzed, Mr. Flynt had penile implant surgery so he could continue to have sex.

Mr. Flynt created a business with an estimated turnover of $150 million at one point. As magazine circulation slipped, he stayed ahead of trends by investing in adult-oriented television channels, a casino, film distribution and merchandise.

He said he never objected to being labeled a smut peddler as long as he was considered a First Amendment crusader, too. “Just because I publish pornography does not mean that I am not concerned about the social ills that all of us are,” he once told an interviewer.

Mr. Flynt was often in legal trouble, fighting obscenity charges or lawsuits, and he often turned courtroom appearances into spectacles. His obscene outbursts once prompted his own lawyer to ask a judge to have Mr. Flynt bound and gagged.

EXPLICIT PICS
Born in 1942, Mr. Flynt grew up in poverty in Kentucky and Indiana and dropped out of school after the eighth grade. After stints in the armed forces and a General Motors plant, he and his brother opened the Hustler Club in Dayton, Ohio, in 1968. By 1973 it had grown to a string of strip clubs across the state and Mr. Flynt put out a newsletter to promote them.

That newsletter evolved into Hustler magazine, his flagship publication, which came to be infamous for featuring explicit photos that made competitor Playboy seem mild. Virtually nothing was off limits on Hustler’s pages and Mr. Flynt made a point of publishing photos of women’s genitalia.

At its peak, Hustler reportedly had a circulation of 3 million. Larry Flynt Publications also put out other porn magazines, as well as movies and mainstream magazines.

Mr. Flynt reveled in controversy. He made news by publishing pictures of a nude Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sunbathing in 1975 and a cover photo of a naked woman being fed head first into a meat grinder. In 1998 he offered $1 million to anyone who could catch high-ranking US government officials in a sex scandal.

“My competitors always masqueraded their pornography as art,” Mr. Flynt told the Cincinnati Post. “We never had any pretensions about what we did … We have proved that barnyard humor has a market appeal.”

In 1977 he was convicted in Cincinnati of pandering obscenity and participating in organized crime but the verdict was overturned.

In 1978 Mr. Flynt was on trial on similar charges in Lawrenceville, Georgia, when he and his attorney were shot. Joseph Paul Franklin, a white supremacist, later confessed to the shootings, saying he was upset by Hustler’s photographs of interracial sex, but was never prosecuted. Mr. Flynt was left paralyzed from the waist down by the shooting, restricted to a $17,000 gold-plated wheelchair for the rest of his life.

In October 2013, one month before Franklin was executed in Missouri for racially motivated murders not related to the Flynt shooting, Mr. Flynt wrote in the Hollywood Reporter that he did not believe in the death penalty and did not want Franklin put to death. He did want vengeance, however. “I would love an hour in a room with him and a pair of wire-cutters and pliers so I could inflict the same damage on him that he inflicted on me,” Mr. Flynt said.

His life was the basis of the 1996 movie The People vs. Larry Flynt which starred Woody Harrelson and was based in part on Flynt’s Supreme Court case.

Mr. Flynt was a Democrat whose magazines espoused liberal and libertarian views. He once ran for president against Ronald Reagan — promoting himself as “the smut peddler who cares” — and in 2003 campaigned for governor of California.

In 1977, he converted to evangelical Christianity at the urging of Ruth Carter Stapleton, sister of President Jimmy Carter, but renounced those beliefs the following year after the Georgia shooting.

Mr. Flynt’s 1996 autobiography was titled An Unseemly Man: My Life as a Pornographer, Pundit and Social Outcast.

He was married five times and had four surviving children. — Reuters

Manila Water in talks with gov’t on new contract, says DoJ chief

AYALA-LED Manila Water Co., Inc. is negotiating a new concession contract with the government ahead of a separate negotiation with Maynilad Water Services, Inc., the Justice secretary said on Thursday.

“[T]he water concession review panel is currently negotiating with Manila Water,” said Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra in a mobile phone message to BusinessWorld.

When asked at which stage the negotiation has reached, he said, “much progress has been achieved.”

According to Mr. Guevarra, the negotiation is led by the Department of Finance. He also said that the negotiation with the other water concessionaire, Maynilad, will start once talks with Manila Water are done.

In November last year, President Rodrigo R. Duterte tasked the Department of Justice to discuss with Metro Manila’s two water providers the revision of their existing concession contracts, which he claimed to contain “onerous” provisions.

Mr. Duterte’s directive was a response to an international arbitration court’s ruling that the Philippine government must pay Maynilad P3.4 billion and Manila Water P7.4 billion for losses incurred when the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System rejected their request for an increase in water rates.

The concessionaires opted not to demand payment, and said they were open to review the terms of their separate contracts with the government. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

EDC ties up with social enterprise for plastic waste collection

LOPEZ-LED Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has inked a deal with local social enterprise The Plastic Flamingo (PLAF) to collect plastic waste from the houses of the firm’s employees for recycling and upcycling, the company said on Thursday.

EDC signed the memorandum of agreement with PLAF in a virtual event that took place on Feb. 3. In a press release Thursday, EDC said that the partnership called “Plastic to Shelter” would help achieve its goal of becoming a zero-waste company.

Under the agreement, EDC would collect the plastic waste materials of its employees based in Manila and nearby areas once a month, and subsequently turn them over to PLAF, which would use the materials for recycling, upcycling and disposal.

“Part of PLAF’s program is segregating the collected plastics according to its classifications and then transforming them into Eco-Planks. The eco-planks are used in producing emergency shelter for populations hit by disaster,” EDC said in a statement.

EDC Corporate Support Functions Head and Assistant Vice President Regina Victoria J. Pascual said that the firm’s initiative in waste management was “nothing new” as it has been spearheading a number of programs in addressing the plastic waste situation, including information campaigns among its employees on how to properly dispose of waste, and encouraging employees to donate eco-bricks to its sister company First Balfour.

Eco-bricks, which are made of plastic bottles packed with used plastic materials, are known as reusable building blocks for construction.

“We knew that there’s always a way to do more, to have less waste, to have better environmental impact–which led to our desire to have zero waste in EDC. Our bigger hurdle came last year when we started working from home due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and realized that all those food and grocery deliveries and items ordered online that came in layers of bubble wrap have resulted in accumulation of plastic waste in our employees’ respective houses,” Ms. Pascual said.

She added that EDC eventually found a partner in PLAF that could help manage its employees’ personal plastic waste while repurposing them into other products.

PLAF handles a pilot waste collection project in the country, with a collection network spanning Metro Manila and other areas.

According to a report released by the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment last year, the Philippines was identified as the world’s third-biggest polluter, generating 2.7 million metric tons of plastic wastes per year.

In December, House Deputy Speaker and Antique Rep. Loren B. Legarda said in a forum that plastic pollution in the country has aggravated flood levels in various parts of Luzon, following the onslaught of monsoons and typhoons that hit the country. — Angelica Y. Yang

What’s wrong with your Code of Conduct?

A non-lawyer human resource consultant we hired to do our job evaluation project has noticed a flaw in our employee Code of Conduct. He says that the offenses do not have a clear and precise definition. For example, he pointed out that “negligence” and “neglect of duty” must be clearly defined to avoid misunderstandings with our workers. I told him that the Code was drafted by our management lawyer, which I believe gives the Code some credibility. Who is correct? — Crown Jewel.

There’s no question about the importance of having lawyers by our side. Otherwise, there will be no one to explain why it’s important to have lawyers. Regrettably, very few people can understand their legalese. That’s why it’s equally important to have non-lawyers to challenge lawyers on their complex and long-winded writing style, which may not be fully understood by managers, much less by ordinary workers.

I’m surprised by the supposed shortcomings of your Code. If it was drafted by a lawyer, what was the reason for not including full definitions for every offense? Indeed, it could be a potential issue in the future. Besides, it’s easy for lawyers to cite the specific definition of each and every act and omission by citing the jurisprudence. For instance, a quick internet search will tell you that “simple negligence” is different from “gross negligence.”

The Supreme Court in the case of Republic v. Canastillo (G.R. No. 172729, June 8, 2007, 524 SCRA 546, 555) defines simple neglect of duty or simple negligence to mean “the failure of an employee or official to give proper attention to a task expected of him or her, signifying a disregard of a duty resulting from carelessness or indifference.”

In contrast, “gross negligence” or “gross neglect of duty” is defined in another case as “negligence characterized by the want of even slight care, or by acting or omitting to act in a situation where there is a duty to act, not inadvertently but wilfully and intentionally, with a conscious indifference to the consequences, insofar as other persons may be affected. It is the omission of that care that even inattentive and thoughtless men never fail to give to their own property.”

That’s according to Fernandez v. Office of the Ombudsman (G.R. No. 193983. March 14, 2012, 668 SCRA 351, 364).

Another definition given by the Court is found in the case of Philippine Retirement Authority v. Rupa (G.R. No. 140519, August 21, 2001, 363 SCRA 480, 487) which defines gross negligence or gross neglect of duty as denoting “a flagrant and culpable refusal or unwillingness of a person to perform a duty.”

So, which definition would you follow in defining negligence? Is it simple negligence or gross negligence? Just like your consultant, I’m also a non-lawyer HR consultant. In my 35-plus years in corporate HR work, I’ve seen management losing cases to employees for negligence committed by their lawyers.

BASIC ELEMENTS
More than having a clear and precise legal definition of offenses in your Code, I suggest that you take note of the following basic elements to make your policies an authoritative guide for everyone. Not only will these elements better prepare your management in disciplining workers, but it can help you pinpoint areas where you want them to be efficient and productive.

The following basic elements should be included in your Code of Conduct:

One, include the corporate vision, mission, and value statements. This is to put the Code in its correct perspective. For instance if teamwork is a value statement, then use it as a “section” or “chapter” to cover offenses on neglect of duty or negligence. Another example: If integrity is another corporate value, then strengthen it with the provisions against theft.

Two, review the Code for rigid and unreasonable penalties. You don’t terminate workers on a first offense over tardiness. The progression is typically an oral reprimand for the first offense, followed by a written reprimand for the second, and suspension without pay for the third offense. The fourth offense is when you initiate a process for possible dismissal.

Three, reconcile the Code with industry norms and standards. If you belong to the banking industry, ensure that the table of offenses and applicable penalties are within the reasonable best practices of at least three banks of similar size and business model. If you’re a rural bank, don’t copy the norms of the top three major banks, unless they are favorable to employees.

Four, ask a random group of workers to review the Code. That is necessary when just starting a business or if there are parts of the Code that need to be changed. If you’re starting a new business, the first thing that you should do is to create a draft of the Code for subsequent review by some key workers, including those with potential leadership skills. This step is imperative if you are to avoid any issues.

Last, explain substantive and procedural due process in the Code. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. All you have to do is to cite specific provisions of the Labor Code, its implementing rules, and the latest jurisprudence. Then include an easy-to-understand flowchart and template on how management should handle all disciplinary cases. This way, it is easy for all line supervising executives to follow procedure, even without consulting the HR department.

PLAGIARISM CHECK
If you’re unsure how to proceed with issuing the Code, consult with your lawyer and another non-lawyer specialist to have a balanced view of the situation. That way, you can get the best of both worlds. It may be expensive to hire two consultants for the same project, but it is reasonable to do so if you want to avoid legal and non-legal complications.

In taking this approach, you need to run the draft through any free software program to detect plagiarism. Or if you can afford it, subscribe to a comprehensive, premium program. This is to avoid situations in which employees or outsiders may charge your management with copy-pasting their original work. Imagine how embarrassing it would be if you’re caught plagiarizing a section on honesty and integrity in your corporate vision, mission, and value statements.

With technology, it’s easy to plagiarize almost everything. If you’re tempted, then you’re doomed. If you fail to recognize this as a red flag, then be ready to face the consequences when someone sues.

 

Send anonymous questions to elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.consulting

Jay-Z, The Go-Gos among Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees

Rapper Jay-Z, 1980s pop group The Go-Gos and rock band Foo Fighters were among first-time nominees announced on Wednesday for possible induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Others on the ballot for the first time include singer-songwriter Carole King and singer-actress Dionne Warwick, heavy metal group Iron Maiden, and the late Nigerian singer Fela Kuti. The 16 contenders also included previous nominees Tina Turner, Mary J. Blige, Devo, LL Cool J, and Todd Rundgren. Performers become eligible 25 years after their first commercial release. King was nominated for her work as a performer. She was previously inducted as a songwriter with Gerry Coffin. Turner’s nomination was for her solo work. She had been honored for duo Ike and Tina Turner. Inductees will be selected based on ballots sent by the Cleveland-based Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry. The general public also can weigh in online or at the Rock Hall. The top five vote-getters will be submitted as a single fan ballot among the hundreds of other ballots. Those selected will be announced in May and inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Cleveland in the fall. In previous years, between five and seven acts have typically won a place in the Hall. — Reuters

Bruce Springsteen faces drunk driving charge

NEW YORK — Rock music legend Bruce Springsteen was arrested nearly three months ago at a national park in New Jersey on charges that included reckless driving and driving while intoxicated, a park spokeswoman said on Wednesday. “The Boss,” whose career of more than 50 years has often highlighted his home state of New Jersey and its shore scene, received the citations on Nov. 14 at Sandy Hook, a strip of beach that extends into the Atlantic just south of New York City, the spokeswoman said. “Springsteen was cooperative throughout the process,” Daphne Yun, spokeswoman for the National Park Service’s Gateway National Recreation Area, said by e-mail. Mr. Springsteen was also cited for consuming alcohol in a closed area, she said. Four of Mr. Springsteen’s representatives, including two lawyers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The celebrity news website TMZ, which initially reported the incident earlier on Wednesday, said Mr. Springsteen has a court appearance scheduled “in the next few weeks.” Mr. Springsteen most recently came to the public eye on Sunday in a Super Bowl advertisement in which he spoke of reuniting a divided America in a two-minute video titled “The Middle” sponsored by Jeep. On Wednesday, Jeep said it had stopped running the ad featuring Mr. Springsteen until more was known about the incident. — Reuters

New Hollywood remake of Wizard of Oz is in the works

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood is preparing to take another trip down the yellow brick road with a remake of classic movie The Wizard of Oz, one of the most celebrated films of all time. New Line Cinema, a unit of AT&T Inc.’s Warner Bros studio, said on Tuesday it was developing a fresh take on the story of Dorothy and her visit to the Land of Oz that was detailed in L. Frank Baum’s children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was published in 1900. Nicole Kassell, an executive director and producer of HBO’s Emmy-winning Watchmen series, will direct the new movie, the studio said. “The opportunity to examine the original themes — the quest for courage, love, wisdom and home — feels more timely and urgent than ever,” Ms. Kassell said in a statement. Few details were provided, but the new movie will not be a musical. The original 1939 film starring Judy Garland featured the song “Over the Rainbow,” which won an Academy Award for best original song. The film lost the best picture trophy that year to Gone with the Wind.  Since then, there have been several remakes and spinoffs, including long-running Broadway hit Wicked and 2013 Disney film Oz the Great and Powerful starring James Franco. — Reuters

No to ‘Cha-cha’ at this time

The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) released the following statement last month in reaction to the House of Representatives’ renewed push for Charter change (Cha-cha):

“We agree that the economic provisions of the Constitution must be amended to make the country a more attractive investment destination. Having said that, we are strongly opposed to any initiative at this time to amend the Constitution. It is akin to undertaking house renovation while the family struggles to pay for food, basic education, hospitalization expenses, and other badly-needed basic necessities.

“There are low-hanging fruits which Congress can focus on to help the country successfully emerge from the pandemic and make it more attractive to investors. For example, still pending for enactment into law are the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill and the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) bill. There are also efforts to put in place a new stimulus package to revive and restore our economy to normalcy.

“We respectfully request the President to sign into law the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) bill, which was ratified by Congress before its Christmas break. We call on Congress to tackle legislative initiatives on the economy at the earliest possible time, rather than devote its time and the country’s meager resources to a highly controversial, divisive issue at this time.”

Nine other organizations supported FINEX’s call urging the 18th Congress to avoid tinkering with the 1987 Constitution ahead of the 2022 national and local elections. These are the Philippine Retailers Association, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Women’s Business Council, the Makati Business Club, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Investment House Association of the Philippines, the Filipina CEO Circle, the Philippine Women’s Economic Network, and the Judicial Reform Initiative.

With only 15 months to go before our crucial presidential election in May next year, the 10 organizations said “any attempt at Charter change now will be divisive at a time when our country still needs to be totally united in our efforts to overcome the ill effects of the pandemic.”

To the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendments, the business community’s message is clear: NO TO CHA-CHA AMID THE PANDEMIC!

INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Last Jan. 15, FINEX celebrated its 53rd anniversary with the induction of board members and officers. Below are excerpts from the inaugural address of 2021 President Francis Lim highlighting this year’s theme, “Transcending the New Frontier. Leading Beyond Recovery.”

“2020 was a life-changing year. COVID-19 continues to test the mettle of human beings on so many levels — physically, emotionally, financially, psychologically, and socially. The pandemic has, without doubt, brought devastating effects on the global economy. 2021 will test our mettle as an organization. Let’s show the world what stuff we are truly made of!

“We have to rise above or go beyond the punishing effects of the pandemic and look forward with optimism to the future, cautious though it may be. For all its faults, the COVID-19 has been the catalyst that drew companies and at a certain level, the government, to move towards digital, a sure thing that would have happened given the technological change that had been happening around us. In a big way, this pandemic gave us a clear insight of what we need to do for our businesses to survive and compete in this day and age and the years ahead of us.

“It is without question that we must recover from the devastation brought about by the pandemic. We owe it to our children and our children’s children. As finance executives, we must not only look for short-term solutions, but we must look forward and develop our long-term strategies to ensure sustainability. We must lead in the area of finance to help ensure the survival of our economy. We will take advantage of the wisdom of our senior members, honed by years of experience, in helping our organization lead beyond recovery.”

 

J. Albert Gamboa is CFO of the Asian Center for Legal Excellence and chairman of FINEX Publications.

PSE posts month-on-month market cap gain in December, ends 2020 at near-2019 level

PSE posts month-on-month market cap gain in December, ends 2020 at near-2019 level

How PSEi member stocks performed — February 11, 2021

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, February 11, 2021.

Stuff to do (02/12/21)

Regine Velasquez Valentine’s concert postponed

ABS-CBN Events and IME have postponed the Freedom: Regine Velasquez-Alcasid Digital Concert scheduled on Feb. 14 because Ms. Velasquez-Alcasid was recently exposed to someone who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is now in quarantine. ABS-CBN, in a statement, said all tickets sold for the original date will be honored at the new Freedom concert schedule, which will be announced soon.

Indian embassy holds yoga classes

THE EMBASSY of India, Manila presents a specially curated 10-week online course on Yoga by certified Indian and Filipino experts from Feb. 14 onwards.  There will be regular classes every Tuesday (8 to 9 a.m.) and Saturday (10 to 11 a.m.). There will also be special classes held every alternate Sunday with the  Isha Foundation. For more information, visit https://www.eoimanila.gov.in/page/yoga-classes/. To register visit : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OyaL8WsuuR1lCulGm4dWFk14byNQMTdFR2UnrKDLDu8. Registration is necessary and is on a first come, first served basis. The classes are free.

PPO holds virtual pocket performances

THE PHILIPPINE Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) will stage online performances through its Pocket Concert Series from February to July. Billed as The PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances, the first of the series of concerts will be streamed on Feb. 12 and 19, 8 p.m., Friday through the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Website. The repertoire for the Feb. 12 concert includes: “Romance Op. 19 no. 1” by Georg Goltermann to be performed by the PPO Cello section, “Ikaw at Ako” by Moira Dela Torre and Jason Marvin to be interpreted by Gary Silangcruz (flute), “Go the Distance” by Alan Menken to be rendered by Ernani Pascual (French horn), and “Nakikinig ka ba sa Akin?” by Ben & Ben to be played by Rey Casey Concepcion (viola). The PPO Online Pocket Concert Series is a program of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra which can be viewed from the PPO FB page and the CCP YouTube as platforms.

New Hope exhibit at Robinsons Galleria

TO CELEBRATE Art Month this February, Robinsons Land ARTablado presents a group exhibition dubbed as “New Hope.” The participating artists are Vicson Apostol, Salvador “Buddy” Ching, David De Vera, Rigor Esguerra, France Landicho, Rudy Lunod, Mary Jane Palma, Thomas Papa, Myleen Velasquez, and Gabriel Villalobos. This exhibit was conceptualized to help various artists who were greatly affected by recent typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. These artists were able to create artworks which were not damaged by the typhoons. Thirty-eight artworks will be on display in this selling exhibit. “New Hope” runs until Feb. 28 at the Level 3 Veranda of Robinsons Galleria.

Lunar New Year, Valentines events at Shang Plaza

THE COMING weekend calls for a double celebration as the world marks both the Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day. Mall guests at Shangri-La Plaza can join in the mall’s lineup of activities to ring in the Year of the Metal Ox and celebrate love too. No new year celebration is complete with the traditional Chinese dragon and lion dance that’s meant to drive bad vibes away and usher good fortune in. This year, the Shang will host them on Feb. 12 and 13. As a treat, mall guests will also receive fortune cookies upon entry at the Shang on the same dates. Mall goers can also have a chance to attract long life and luck — and enjoy a favorite noodle dish at a discount. Shang’s month-long Oodles of Noodles promo lets mall guests enjoy their favorite kind of ramen, pho, pasta, or japchae at discounted prices at participating restaurants: Banana Leaf, Kimono Ken, Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen, Italianni’s, Sbarro, SumoSam, Watami, Pho Hoa, Lemongrass, Hen Lin, Bon Chon, Pepper Lunch, and Sweet Inspirations. Meanwhile, Shang is pushing through with its annual Valentine’s Day Fair, which offers bouquets, sweet treats, and other gift ideas at the Level 1 of the Main Wing from Feb. 11 to 14. JV Bautista and Tek Cortez, the metro’s top buskers, will be going around the mall on Feb. 13-14 to serenade mall guests.  For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial.

BGC’s drive-in concert

THIS year, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) celebrates love in all its shapes and forms with a lineup of activities that includes the metro’s first drive-in concert. The 30th Street Open Carpark, BGC Corporate Center turns into a big concert ground with live performances by Rico Blanco and KZ Tandingan enjoyed from the safety and comfort of one’s car. To attend, exchange P2,500 worth of receipts (single or accumulated) from participating Bonifacio High Street (BHS) establishments at One Bonifacio High Street’s concierge booth (limited slots available on a first come, first served basis; only four persons per car will be allowed). The concert, which will be held on Feb. 13, 6 p.m., will also be broadcast on Q Radio 105.1 and livestreamed on BGC’s official FB page. Meanwhile, in partnership with HoritFilipina, a free-for-all al fresco dining area will be made available at Bonifacio High Street’s amphitheater from Feb. 13 to 14. Guests can order take-away from any BHS restaurant or scan the QR codes available to order and arrange for pickup or delivery. On Feb. 14, 7 p.m., a fireworks show will light the sky above BHS’ alfresco restaurants. For more information on these events, visit https://www.facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph or https://www.facebook.com/BoniHighStreet.

Welcome the Year of the Metal Ox at Ortigas Malls

THE ORTIGAS Malls — Greenhills Mall, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria — roll out a grand welcome to the year of the Metal Ox that everyone can join. To bring in abundance and prosperity in the coming year, Ortigas Malls has laid out a host of activities that visitors can join on-site or from wherever they are through its zodiac forecasts and mall serenades. Astrologer Maritess Allen will give her forecast based on one’s Chinese animal zodiac sign. She will share her predictions on the year ahead for each sign at each Ortigas Mall on Feb. 12. Meanwhile, start the new year right by picking up some essentials and enjoy some Chinese delicacies at the Chinese New Year Fair in Greenhills Mall, Tiendesitas, and Estancia. The malls’ restaurants and shops are holding various Chinese New Year and Valentines’ promos and sales. Meanwhile, for Valentines, the Greenhills Mall, Tiendesitas, Estancia at Capitol Commons, and Industria are ready to make the celebration extra memorable and safe at the same time. Whether one opts to visit any of the restaurants, or choose to have these delivered to one’s home,  there are a wide variety of restaurant options that suit every taste and preference, just check out Greenhills’, Tiendesitas’, and Estancia’s social media pages to learn about the specials and promos of the restaurants in their areas. For home delivery, make a choice via My Home Dashers (Greenhills 0917-815-6640 or Estancia 0917-851-9262). For an added touch, there will be acoustic music and saxophonists serenading visitors at Greenhills and Tiendesitas on Feb. 14. Drop by Letters of Love and get inspired by the beautiful words of aspiring romantic poets on Feb. 14 at 12 nn and 6 p.m.

Araneta City welcomes the Ox

ARANETA City welcomes the Year of the Metal Ox with a number of activities throughout February. Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, Farmers Plaza will all host Chinese Zodiac Sign Exhibits daily until Feb. 20. Meanwhile, a CNY & VDAY Bazaar is ongoing until Feb 16 at the Gateway Mall and Farmers Plaza. A Lunar New Year celebration is not complete without a Lion and Dragon Dance so they will be held on Feb. 12 at the Gateway Mall’s Activity Area (2 to 2:30 p.m.), the Araneta Coliseum Green Gate (2:30 to 3 p.m.), Ali Mall’s Activity Area (3 to 3:30 p.m.), and Farmers Plaza’s Activity Area (3:30 to 4 p.m.). Quieter acoustic performances and Valentines dining will be available. The Oasis at Gateway Mall will host performances by the quartet Mahestra.PH on Feb. 13, 6 to 9p.m., and Feb. 14, 5 to 8 p.m. The Times Square  Food Park will feature performances by JC Laborte on Feb. 12, 6 to 9 p.m., Karl Zarate on Feb. 13, 7 to 8 p.m., and Josh Concepcion on Feb. 14, 6 to 9 p.m. There will be Pop Up Nights at Manhattan Row on Feb. 12, 6 to 9 p.m., with Josh Concepcion; Feb. 13, 6 to 9 p.m., with JC Laborte; and Feb. 14, 7 to 8 p.m., with Karl Zarate.

CCP debuts new short film, dance video

THE CULTURAL Center of the Philippines (CCP) brings healing and hope this Love Month with the world premiere of award-winning filmmaker Jerrold Tarog’s new film Ang Kabaligtaran ng Gunaw (The Opposite of the End), back-to-back with the launch of Hilom: Sayaw Dalangin ng Pag-asa at Pagkakaisa, on Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., airing on CNN Philippines channels. Director Tarog translated the original poem with the same title written by playwright Eljay Castro Deldoc into a cinematic experience, featuring the original concept and choreography by Ronelson Yadao. Tarog also composed the music for the dance film. The eight-minute short feature film brings together the different art forms — from literature, dance, music, theater and film — to create a unique collaboration. Meanwhile, Hilom features folkloric dances associated with Filipino rituals and dance traditions to show how relevant dance is to the lives of the people especially during times of difficulty and challenges. After the twinbill premieres on CNN Philippines, the CCP plans to have a hybrid outdoor screening, Cinema Under the Stars, at the CCP grounds, following strict health protocols. There will also be an online premiere through the CCP social media accounts (official Facebook page and YouTube channel). For more information and updates, visit the CCP website www.culturalcenter.gov.ph and follow the official CCP Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts and YouTube Channel.

Juris, Jed Madela headline YouTube Music Night

Singers Juris and Jed Madela will headline the second YouTube Music Night in Southeast Asia with a back-to-back Valentine’s digital concert dubbed Hearts on Fire: Juris and Jed. The free digital concert will stream on Feb. 13, 8-9 p.m., via the YouTube channels of ABS-CBN Star Music, MOR, MYX, and One Music. Viewers can look forward to Madela’s version of Moira Dela Torre’s “Paubaya” and Juris’ classic “’Di Lang Ikaw,” and more love-themed performances.

La Sabina online

THE OPENING movie of the film series dedicated to Spanish actress Ángela Molina is La Sabina, a drama directed by José Luis Borau in 1979. The story, which in a way is a new adaptation of the myth of the femme fatale Carmen, is about an English writer who moves to a Spanish village and, once there, decides to investigate the life of a compatriot who lived in the same town in the 19th century, and who, according to the locals, was killed by a dragon woman known as “La Sabina.” The movie will be accessible for free online from the Philippines only on Feb. 13 and 14. It will be in Spanish with English subtitles. To access the film, go to https://vimeo.com/501867137. For further information on the film, visit https://cultura.cervantes.es/manila/en/La-sabina/140154 and https://www.facebook.com/events/161791552193592

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