Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 709

Stuff to Do (05/23/25)

ON May 23, the National Parks Development Committee, in collaboration with Sound Experience Manila, is bringing back the performance series Paco Park Presents with the sarswela Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes and Fulgencio Tolentino.

Watch the sarswela Walang Sugat

ON May 23, the National Parks Development Committee, in collaboration with Sound Experience Manila, is bringing back the performance series Paco Park Presents with the sarswela Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes and Fulgencio Tolentino. The special one-hour program begins at the historic Paco Park in Manila at 6 p.m. and is open and free to the public. The musical is centered on the love and sacrifice of Julia and Tenyong, the push and pull of the heart’s destiny and a daughter’s duty, and the perseverance of the Filipino spirit. It is directed by Dr. Alegria O. Ferrer, starring Daniella Silab, Diego Alcudia, Abet Guande, Vianca Yu, Archibald Dalupang, and Bettina Hernandez, with Samuel Silvestre on the keyboard. Music was arranged by Josefino Toledo.

Go to Tago Jazz’s shows

KICKING off the weekend at Tago Jazz is the CEU Jazz Ensemble, performing on May 23 at 9 p.m. They will be performing jazz standards, for a cover price of P300. On May 24, Trifecta will take over, bringing big-band funk and acid jazz to the stage. Their 9 p.m. show will have a P350 cover fee. Finally, May 25 will see the Mabuhay Swingers in the spotlight, performing jazz standards starting 9 p.m. Guests can save their seats for P300 each. Tago Jazz is at 14 Main Ave. on the Crame side in Cubao, Quezon City.

Enjoy activities with Lilo & Stitch at Ayala theaters

ASIDE from giving Filipino families a movie experience with the premiere of Lilo & Stitch in the Philippines, Ayala Malls Cinemas is offering activities to those who purchase two tickets to the movie at certain branches. The “Ohana Fun Station,” themed after the Hawaiian-set film, includes arts and crafts and activity sheets with Lilo & Stitch characters. It is available in select Ayala Malls Cinemas from May 24 to 25. The live-action reimagining of the animated movie, following the unlikely friendship between Hawaiian girl Lilo and wild alien Stitch, is out now in Philippine cinemas.

Attend Moonstar88’s 25th anniversary of ‘Torete’

FILIPINO alternative rock band Moonstar88 is celebrating the 25th anniversary of their timeless anthem “Torete” with a special performance on May 24. Set for 7 p.m. at Eton Centris Walk, Quezon City, the special one-night concert will feature a set that spans the band’s discography, from chart-topping hits to rarely performed gems. The songs will also be reimagined in collaboration with the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra. Supporting performances will lead into the show, featuring rising acts Hey June! and Better Days. Admission is free.

See Filipino 19th century clothing exhibit

AN exhibit in Intramuros is highlighting the role of clothing in expressing identity, status, and resistance during a period of change. KABIHISNAN: A Special Exhibit on Filipino Sartorial History is running from May 25 to June 8, with the goal of tracing Philippine history through the fabric of everyday life. Presented by Renacimiento Manila, Historia Viviente Manila, and the Intramuros Administration, the show features 15 faithful replicas of 19th century civilian, military, and religious clothing. It will be on view at the Centro de Turismo Mezzanine, Intramuros, Manila. Entrance fee is P150.

Calle Wright presents early PHL contemporary art

THE exhibit Early Philippine Contemporary Art (1969-1985): Works and Documents from the Collection of Judy Freya Sibayan is on view at Calle Wright, starting May 25 until Aug. 31. It offers a rare look at the formative years of contemporary art in the Philippines through artist Judy Freya Sibayan’s deeply personal collection, which includes gifts from pioneering artists Roberto Chabet, Ray Albano, Johnny Manahan, and Huge Bartolome. These works, alongside Sibayan’s own, map out interconnections formed through shared exhibitions, collaborations, and discourse throughout the 1970s and mid-1980s. Ms. Sibayan will be gracing the opening with a performance titled Reframing Art at 4:30 p.m. on May 25. Calle Wright is at 1890 Vasquez St., Malate, Manila.

Visit Ali Mall’s Flores de Mayo exhibit

FLORES DE MARIA, an exhibition of various Marian images from different parts of Metro Manila, is on display at the MacArthur Activity Area of Ali Mall in Quezon City. Running until May 28 during mall hours, the exhibit aims to foster mallgoers’ appreciation for the various images related to Flores de Mayo, the Philippines’ month-long Catholic festival dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Listen to Peej and Dhruv’s new single

FILIPINO indie folk musician Peej and Indian singer-songwriter and producer Dhruv Visvanath have come together for the release of their new single, “Pieces.” The collaboration began when the two met at a music conference in Singapore in 2024. Crafted entirely remotely, with Dhruv penning the lyrics and producing the track from New Delhi and Peej doing his part of the songwriting from Manila, “Pieces” is an eclectic pop song that aims to give an intimate sonic experience through acoustic textures. It is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Listen to Cambodian artist VannDa

THE final chapter of Cambodian musician VannDa’s cultural epic trilogy has been released. Titled Treyvisai III: Return to Sovannaphum, the album follows the first two installments that depict ambitions, self-doubt, and rage, and concludes the saga with healing, purpose, and pride. The centerpiece of the new release is “Golden Land,” VannDa’s most cinematic music video. Treyvisai III: Return to Sovannaphum is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Watch GIVĒON’s new single and music video

GRAMMY-NOMINATED GIVĒON has released his new single and video, “Rather Be.” The ballad, produced by Sevn Thomas, Maneesh, Matthew Burnett, jeff gitty, and jahaan sweet, incorporates horns, bells, and whistles. The music video portrays intimacy and dashing fashion, directed by Loris Russier. “Rather Be” is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Thinking and doing beyond the May 12 midterm elections

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

This is not Monday-morning quarterbacking.

True, the May 12 midterm elections are over, but no one for sure could expect real change, even when some political dynasties were scorned, movie entertainers rejected, popular plunderers and corrupt incumbents repudiated. Well, that could amount to some reawakening. Others would prefer to call it a meritocratic renewal.

But only a couple of those in the list of progressive senatorial candidates generated by ChatGPT and by some concerned non-government organizations — Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, France Castro, Arlene Brosas, Leody de Guzman, Luke Espiritu, Teodoro Casiño, Liza Maza, Amirah Lidasan, Sonny Matula and Heidi Mendoza — made it to the winning circle. ChatGPT practically endorsed a new politics of vision and serious political platform.

Only former Senators Aquino and Pangilinan on the list managed to win, with the other 10 successful candidates endorsed by either the Marcos or Duterte camps. ChatGPT’s criteria — a clean public record, pro-people and sectoral advocacy, democratic and transparent governance, a track record of action and independence from dynasties or political machinery — were mostly set aside by many among us.

These more progressive candidates ran on the basis of political platforms that could translate into actual serious discourse in the Senate and possibly result in some change, no matter how feeble in the beginning.

Many of their opposite kind would continue to thrive in this highly dysfunctional environment. Their names will remain a fixture in future electoral exercises. Whether we would see a rerun in political governance, or more of the same soft leadership, will depend on how the people would translate their political choices into public policy. Democracy thrives in a body of laws and public policy that promotes rather than subverts public interest.

It is rarely sensible to just entrust the destiny of this Republic to the elected leaders. Mitigating our wide democratic deficit should not stop there. The people should take the additional responsibility of monitoring their performance, assessing their policies and their implementation, and demanding receipts for accountability.

The winning candidates should be constantly reminded of the people’s major concerns and needs. It is more than a compelling cause to impress upon the incoming public officials the importance of why they were elected in the first place. It’s not about giving them access to the public treasury and spending every which way. It’s not about pursuing their private business, whether as an athlete, contractor, movie star or talk show host, and attending to their constituents on the side.

Public service is a full-time job.

It’s about doing their homework, studying with their technical staff what is wrong with our economy and politics, and what needs to be done. They don’t have to reinvent the wheel; they can start with the Philippines’ long-term and medium-term development plans. Then they need to progress by assessing if we need to shift from our fundamental model of economic growth to one that favors progressive taxation, one that is more people-focused and therefore more inclusive.

The point is not so much to transform the Philippines overnight — this is impossible — but to avoid exacerbating the problems of governance and corruption, the dissipation of public money and stealing the future of the next generation. What is possible is producing incremental changes as what the May 12 elections demonstrated we are capable of. They are more realistic, they are more promising. The point is to duplicate these small victories and multiply them a hundredfold.

That should define the presidential election in 2028.

In December 2024, Pulse Asia Research showed in no uncertain terms that seven out of 10 Filipinos were concerned about inflation. Lower percentages of those surveyed chose, in decreasing order, the next key issues: increasing workers’ pay, reducing poverty, creating more jobs, fighting graft and corruption, and, finally, involuntary hunger.

Although fifth in the order of importance, the issue of governance inarguably lies at the very core of the other issues. We have seen how incompetence and corruption in many public agencies in charge of the supply side of inflation management led to pricing of rice, onions, garlic, meat products beyond the reach of ordinary Filipinos. With price levels remaining elevated, the periodic increases in the minimum wage have not improved the buying ability of ordinary households. The minimum wage in 2019 and today, although five years and P108 apart, can only buy the same little basket of goods and services.

Reducing poverty is elusive because political and social governance is bad. Viable instruments of escaping poverty through quality public education and robust public health are not priorities in the budget. Economic growth remains weak compared to what is required to regain ground lost during the pandemic, and establish greater equity and social mobility. Creating more jobs could have been easier if budget allocation has been more conscionable to improve our infrastructure and human capital. Enough of pork barrel funds, enough of unconditional cash transfers, enough of intelligence and confidential funds.

Poverty in the Philippines is quite different from that experienced in other countries. We have the richest of the rich here, but we also have a lot of the most impoverished among the poorest. Pagpag is what many among the poorest eat — they scavenge the dregs of the earth and whatever food is found from the rubbish is cleaned and warmed for their lunch or dinner.

Don’t get me wrong. This condition is not unique to the Philippine experience. The more prosperous countries in the ASEAN were once upon a time in this situation, too, even Korea in the 1950s. However, a liberal dose of good dedicated governance and strong institutions managed to bring them out of abject poverty. Their per capita GDPs have outstripped the Philippines’ which had recorded much higher levels in the 1950s and 1960s. Good governance unleashed market forces in their economies and exposed them to global competition that incentivized higher levels of productivity and economic efficiency. More of their social capital went to economic growth, rather than to non-productive consumption and theft of public money.

Job creation is faster when economic growth thrives. Implementation by competent and responsible government should work wonders in a society where good economic development plan exists with a corresponding blueprint for the labor market. No matter what some economists would say, industrial policy is critical in charting a more balanced growth in the economy, one that optimizes the use of the country’s natural and human resources with a global context and perspective.

If involuntary hunger exists here, that could only betray government incompetence and apathy. Likewise, it also speaks volumes about the private sector, including those with corporate social responsibility programs. Hunger and bad nutrition plus inferior public education are behind the country’s dismal performance in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Program for International Students’ Assessment. We can arrest our students’ poor performance in mathematics, reading, and science as well as in critical thinking, if hunger, among others, could be minimized if not eliminated.

It might be too much to expect, but there seems to be no alternative, that our few but strategic members of Congress and the Executive recognize that there is a need to innovate policy thinking and doing beyond the May 12 midterm elections.

We don’t have to debate that the Philippines should ensure that growth is accelerated, sustained, and inclusive. This can be achieved by promoting growth outside key cities and highly urbanized areas, and expanding economic activities that contribute to the country’s long-term growth. However, a new model is required as the Philippines aims to achieve and sustain upper-income status while adapting to a rapidly changing external environment. Underpinning this new approach is the need to embrace technology-driven innovation in various sectors to give economic growth broader basis and greater momentum, while simultaneously protecting the people and the environment.

Given all these summit conferences and seminars on AI and innovations, our politicians should know by now that the use of modern technology jacks up productivity and amplifies efficiency.

Once in midstream, innovation raises the economy’s capacity to break the current mold of economic growth. It entails changing the nature and quality of growth, achieving economic dynamism through new ideas and technology. It helps eliminate the so-called productivity drag to higher growth. This requires strategic investment in human capital, as ultimately, it is people who will strategize, plan, and execute these innovations. Additionally, infrastructure is critical for innovation to drive durable economic growth.

If we have an increasing rank of enlightened legislators and executive officials, our budget can further push for innovation through better schooling and medical facilities for our young students. More social services can be launched.

Finally, innovation itself can also help streamline the bureaucracy and all administrative processes in public agencies. In fact, when repetitive processes like processing of government permits, licenses, and certificates of registrations are automated, there could be inordinate gains in efficiency and productivity as well as in reduction of errors. Most importantly, it bypasses personal interaction that could promote graft and corruption.

The only risk to this first best scenario is that it would threaten the status quo which has benefitted political and economic vested interests, the culture of impunity and patronage, and the scourge of poverty and social inequity.

 

Diwa C. Guinigundo is the former deputy governor for the Monetary and Economics Sector, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). He served the BSP for 41 years. In 2001-2003, he was alternate executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. He is the senior pastor of the Fullness of Christ International Ministries in Mandaluyong.

RCBC plans to issue peso bonds

RCBC/BW FILE PHOTO

RIZAL COMMERCIAL Banking Corp. (RCBC) is looking to offer peso-denominated bonds, including sustainability-themed issuances, under its updated fundraising program.

The bank plans to issue fixed-rate peso bonds under its P200-billion bond and commercial paper program, it said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

In 2022, RCBC doubled the size of its bond program from the original P100 billion approved by its board in 2019.

“The funds to be raised from any offer will be used to, among others, support asset growth, refinance maturing liabilities and other general funding purposes, and even include the financing or refinancing of new or existing sustainable projects as defined under, and consistent with the bank’s Sustainable Finance Framework,” the bank said.

“Under the program, the bank may, from time to time, offer, issue and sell the remaining balance of unissued unsecured and unsubordinated peso-denominated bonds in such form, amount, tenor, number of tranches, at such interest rate, and under such other terms and conditions as the bank may subsequently determine or approve,” it added.

RCBC said the terms and the timetable of each bond tranche will be announced accordingly and will depend on market conditions and management approval.

The bank has raised P86.8 billion out of its P200-billion bond and commercial paper program.

It last issued peso bonds in February 2022, raising P14.75 billion from the sale of 2.25-year ASEAN sustainability bonds.

RCBC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eugene S. Acevedo said in November that the bank wants to tap both the onshore and offshore debt markets on a regular basis  regularly starting this year as part of their new funding strategy to establish a constant presence in the capital markets.

Mr. Acevedo is set to retire within this year. RCBC Deputy CEO Reginaldo Anthony B. Cariaso, who was appointed to his post effective Jan. 1, is set to succeed him.

RCBC’s attributable net income rose by 10.26% year on year to P2.43 billion in the first quarter, driven by consumer loan growth.

Its shares closed at P25.95 apiece on Thursday, rising by 10 centavos or 0.39% from the previous day. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

AIC eyes at least four major locators at West Cebu Estate

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter

ABOITIZ INFRACAPITAL, Inc. (AIC) expects at least four key locators at its West Cebu Estate in Central Visayas, which is seen to support the province’s growing shipbuilding industry. 

“Right now, we’re looking at about four or five [locators], with maybe a couple more coming in,” Monica L. Trajano, vice-president for Business Development of Economic Estates, said on the sidelines of the BusinessWorld Economic Forum in Taguig City on Thursday.

“We’re also seeing other industries that are not necessarily complementary to the shipbuilding industry,” she added.

Majority of the target locators at the 540-hectare West Cebu Estate in Balamban, Cebu are homegrown firms concentrated on shipbuilding.

“Balamban is a strategic location to access more of Central Visayas,” Ms. Trajano said. “So it’s still, at the core, on shipbuilding. Whether it’s new vessels or maintenance, repair and overhaul.”

The West Cebu Estate, which is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), had 17 locator companies from medium to heavy industries, covering over 14,908 jobs, as of December.

Aboitiz Land, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Rafael Fernandez de Mesa earlier said about 20 hectares were left in their 40-hectare expansion plan for the estate.

“It’s pretty much site-graded already and is ready to receive [investors],” Ms. Trajano said. “It’s in varied stages of PEZA proclamation but for the most part, the goal is to be able to get everything PEZA proclaimed.”

For the 384-hectare TARI Estate, the company’s mixed-use estate in Tarlac City, as many as 10 companies have shown interest in expanding, she said. “There’s good interest in TARI — seven to 10 [locators] in terms of interest.”

TARI Estate is the Aboitiz Group’s fourth economic estate. The construction of its first two phases is slated for completion by mid-2026. Once operational, TARI Estate is expected to generate about 60,000 jobs.

“[This] puts us basically on target for things, because it was a 24-month development timeline,” Ms. Trajano said.

Meanwhile, business process outsourcing company Conduent, Inc. has opened its Batangas office at LIMA Tower One, a premium office building inside AIC’s LIMA Estate.

The 9,000-square-meter, three-story facility will house Conduent’s rapidly growing workforce, supporting operations in finance, healthcare services and procurement. It is expected to generate 1,500 jobs this year.

Cannes Film Festival: A look at more of the films this year

A SIMPLE ACCIDENT

CANNES, France — Although he is now free to travel again after a 15-year ban, Iranian director Jafar Panahi said on Wednesday he would be returning immediately to his country after attending the Cannes Film Festival to begin work on his next film.

Mr. Panahi was in southern France for the premiere of his latest film It Was Just An Accident, which is competing against 21 other films for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or.

The 64-year-old was banned from making films or traveling abroad for 20 years in 2010, after he was convicted of “propaganda against the system.” That sentence was recently revoked, allowing him to travel again for the first time in 15 years.

Despite the travel ban and multiple stints in jail, Mr. Panahi said that making films did not put him in any more danger than the actions of other Iranians.

“Every day, there is a restriction about the veil, every day there is an issue, but we see women going out unveiled. Isn’t that dangerous?” said Mr. Panahi.

“As soon as the festival ends, the next evening I will be in Tehran,” said the winner of several international awards, including the 2015 Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear for his film Taxi.

“I need to go think about what my next film will be.”

While he is also allowed to film again, Mr. Panahi said that the way he makes movies has not changed, as he does not follow the government’s rules, such as submitting his script for approval.

It Was Just An Accident follows Vahid, played by Vahid Mobasseri, who kidnaps a man with a false leg who looks just like the one who tortured him in prison and ruined his life.

Mr. Panahi said that being in jail influenced the film but he himself did not experience all the stories recounted in it.

“When you imprison an artist, you’re giving them material, you’re handing them new ideas. You’re opening up a whole new world to them,” said the director.

The director, who was last at Cannes in person in 2003, when Crimson Gold was screened in the Un Certain Regard category, was visibly emotional, as was his cast, at Tuesday’s premiere.

“The excitement of being able to show the conditions we’re working in, the circumstances under which we struggle, of being able to show so many things and have others understand-especially people who are not from the Middle East — was truly meaningful and compelling for us,” said actor Mariam Afshari.

ELEANOR THE GREAT
Award-winning actor Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival is a story she hopes will challenge audiences to reconsider their perspectives on forgiveness and empathy, she told Reuters on Wednesday.

Eleanor the Great, which is competing in the second-tier Un Certain Regard category at Cannes, stars 95-year-old June Squibb as the titular Eleanor, who, due to a case of mistaken identity, tries to pass as a Holocaust survivor as she seeks to make new friends after moving to New York City.

“It seems to be a theme in today’s world that we’re just very quick to judge and kind of cement our feelings about someone or some event,” said twice Oscar-nominated Ms. Johansson. “It’s limiting.”

The Black Widow star’s transition to directing was not planned but came at what she said was the right time.

The script, which she described as “a little gem,” resonated with her immediately, and with Ms. Squibb also enthusiastic about its layered humor Ms. Johansson felt they had to seize the moment.

“When I began to read the script, I felt the way Scarlett did — that this is something I had to do,” said Ms. Squibb, known for 2002’s About Schmidt and 2013’s Nebraska.

This year’s Un Certain Regard category is particularly strong and will pit Eleanor the Great against debut films from fellow actors Harris Dickinson and Kristen Stewart, among others.

Critics, however, were tough.

The Guardian gave the film two out of five stars for seriously misjudging the seriousness of the story’s premise, while Variety called the movie, which received a five-minute ovation at its premiere, an unconvincing crowd-pleaser.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
The decision to include a film set in Gaza in the Cannes Film Festival’ s official selection comes at a particularly urgent time for the small coastal enclave, said twin Palestinian filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser.

“There is a need to give a platform to the voice of Palestine, the Palestinian story, the Gaza story, in an international festival like the Cannes Film Festival, with a wide audience from all over the world,” Arab Nasser told Reuters on Tuesday.

The brothers’ film Once Upon A Time in Gaza, which is competing in the second-tier Un Certain Regard category, premiered at the festival in southern France on Monday.

Their previous work includes Condom Lead, the first-ever Palestinian short to compete at Cannes in 2013, as well as their 2015 debut feature Degrade and 2020’s Gaza Mon Amour.

Once Upon A Time in Gaza begins in 2007, the year the Islamist group Hamas took over Gaza, with low-level drug dealer Osama (Majd Eid) running a falafel stand that serves as a front.

His underling Yahya (Nader Abd Alhay) looks after the restaurant and pines for a better life outside Gaza.

After an incident with a corrupt cop, the story fast-forwards to 2009, when Hamas has fully taken control, and Yahya is cast in a cheap-looking TV series commissioned by the group about a militant who died a hero in the fight against Israel.

Yahya is meant to symbolize a whole generation of Gazans who have been stuck in the coastal enclave with few perspectives, said Tarzan Nasser.

“Maybe his lot would have changed had Israel allowed him to leave the Gaza Strip,” said the director, who along with his brother has been in exile in Jordan for more than a decade.

The film name is meant to capture the rhythm of Gaza at the time, where there is no stability or continuity, and “an incident now would become a ‘once upon a time’ tomorrow,” said Arab Nasser.

But it has a different meaning with a view to the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and saw 251 taken hostage.

That attack triggered Israel’s campaign that has so far killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and devastated Gaza.

Now “we refer to all of Gaza as ‘once upon a time,’ because Israel destroyed Gaza from north to south and has damaged all means of life,” he added. “All the memories, all the incidents that one has in one’s memory of this place, have all vanished, Israel has destroyed it completely.”

PILLION
British director Harry Lighton wanted to dispel preconceptions about kink with his feature debut Pillion, featuring Alexander Skarsgård, he told Reuters at the Cannes Film Festival.

Set in London, Mr. Lighton’s romantic drama explores the submissive relationship between Colin, portrayed by Harry Melling, a shy traffic officer who lives at home with his parents, and Mr. Skarsgård’s Ray, a handsome biker with a mysterious past.

Eager to meet Ray’s demands for domestic obedience, Colin begins to discover what his partner describes as an “aptitude for devotion.” Their relationship is consensual, and its terms are clear.

Mr. Lighton told Reuters he had wanted to make a film about submissive relationships for some time, so when Adam Mars-Jones’ Box Hill novel came along, he jumped at the opportunity to create an adaptation.

“There’s a lot of surface preconceptions about kink and the challenge of digging beneath some of those appealed to me,” he told Reuters.

The film is peppered with moments of comedy so as to, in Mr. Lighton’s words, “lighten the load” and “riff on some of the tropes of romantic comedies and see how they map onto an atypical submissive/dominant relationship.”

Mr. Melling and Mr. Skarsgård said comedic moments were often inadvertently caused by “clumsy and awkward” blunders on set.

“In reality there are a lot of awkward moments when you change position,” Mr. Skarsgård told Reuters. “Just by leaving in those awkward transitions and stuff makes it feel real but it also is kind of funny because you’re not used to seeing that on screen.”

Mr. Melling, known for portraying Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter series and a chess champion in The Queen’s Gambit, told Reuters he was relieved the audience laughed during the film’s world premiere on Sunday.

“The weird thing about doing a movie is you don’t really know if it is funny at the time of doing it,” he told Reuters.

Pillion is competing in the festival’s second-tier Un Certain Regard category, alongside Harris Dickinson’s Urchin and Kristen Stewart’s The Chronology of Water.

A PRIVATE LIFE
Jodie Foster prefers to be outside the United States right now, the Oscar-winning actor told Reuters at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, citing better conditions in Europe’s film industry as well as more freedom now that her children have grown up.

Ms. Foster was in southern France for the premiere of A Private Life, a psychological thriller in which Ms. Foster assumes the role of a psychiatrist who tasks herself with investigating the death of her patient, played by Virginie Efira.

The US-born actor, who won two Oscars for The Accused in 1989 and The Silence of the Lambs in 1992, had to speak in French only for the Cannes film that is screening out of competition.

Ms. Foster, 62, began her career filming commercials at the age of three and has received numerous awards throughout her career, including an honorary Palme d’Or award from Cannes in 2021.

“I’m really enjoying working outside the United States,” she said, recalling how she is not as tied down to the US now as she was when her children were little and she had to stay close to home.

Ms. Foster, who first came to Cannes as a 13-year-old when she starred in Taxi Driver, said working as a director in France was better than in the US because of more creative freedom.

Blending genres, like director Rebecca Zlotowski does in Ms. Foster’s new film, is very uncommon in the US, she said.

Studios want a film to be either a thriller or a comedy, they don’t want a mixture of the two, she said, whereas France allows the director to have more authority on such decisions.

“That’s the reason why filmmakers love to come here.”

In Europe, female directors also have had more opportunities compared with the US, said Ms. Foster, herself a director.

“I’d only worked with one female director until a few years ago. Isn’t that kind of amazing? After I’ve made 60 movies that I’ve barely ever worked with another woman?” she said.

“Europe has always had a female tradition, or at least for quite a while. But in America, somehow that bias really took hold.”

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Director Guy Ritchie’s new action-adventure Fountain of Youth did not lead its stars Natalie Portman and John Krasinski to the source of immortality, but it did take them back to the movies they grew up watching.

The Hollywood stars play estranged siblings Charlotte and Luke, who put their differences aside to embark on a globe-trotting quest to locate the mythical spring that, according to legend, grants eternal youth to anyone drinking from it or bathing in it.

Making the movie was a “big nostalgia hit,” said Mr. Krasinski.

“This is one of those big adventure movies that made you want to be in the movies,” the 45-year-old actor and filmmaker said. “This is what I used to pretend to do. So to be in a movie that I used to pretend to be in with my brothers is totally surreal.”

The film draws inspiration from family favorites such as the Indiana Jones and National Treasure franchises, Ms. Portman said.

“This one has an amazing sibling rivalry at the center, which is kind of a marked difference from Indiana Jones. But yes, of course all the adventure and the incredible locations and all of that imagination is definitely there,” the 43-year-old Oscar winner said.

Ten years since their adventurer father’s death, Luke is determined to continue honoring his treasure-hunting legacy, while art curator Charlotte has settled down in London.

Dealing with an acrimonious break-up with the father of her young son, Charlotte is lured into her brother’s latest adventure, financed by a wealthy businessman played by Domhnall Gleeson.

Written by James Vanderbilt, Fountain of Youth opens with a high-energy chase sequence through the streets and landmarks of Bangkok and sees its characters journey to Irish waters, Vienna, Vatican City, and the Pyramids of Giza.

The film reunites Ritchie with his The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and In the Grey star Eiza Gonzalez, who plays the mysterious Esme.

“This was a very different set because this is like a family-driven film. So there’s children on set. And you are also the family of the traveling pants, you’re traveling everywhere together,” Ms. Gonzalez said.

“Half of that crew I’d worked with three times in a row, so it was sort of like going to camp.”

Fountain of Youth will stream on Apple TV+ from May 23. — Reuters

Nat’l Book Store tapped for youth temporary employment program

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said on Thursday that it signed a deal with the National Book Store (NBS) Group to provide temporary employment to marginalized youth.

In a statement, DoLE said the Memorandum of Agreement with the NBS Group intends to benefit temporary employment for poor students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced workers.

It added that beneficiaries of its Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) can use their temporary stints with the book retailer for work experience.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the program will harness “the power of education and real-world experience in transforming the lives of those who are less fortunate and need most this time this type of support and assistance.”

The SPES program is active during school breaks to augment family income and aim to provide participants with continuity of education.

Under the program, DoLE will ensure the payment of 40% of SPES beneficiary wages, while the NBS Group will pay the remaining 60%.

“SPES beneficiaries are matched with private sector partners and receive wages based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rates,” it added. — Adrian H. Halili

Flight plan for the future: Charting a sustainable course for the airline industry

FREEPIK

The airline industry has found itself at the center of a climate reckoning. Responsible for nearly 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, aviation is both an enabler of global economic development and a contributor to the environmental crisis. As sustainability becomes a core benchmark for corporate credibility and long-term viability, airlines are increasingly under pressure to decarbonize operations, rethink their supply chains, and create a more sustainable future for air travel.

While many carriers have made public commitments to net-zero targets by 2050, the path forward is complex. Fuel costs, geopolitical instability, regulatory uncertainty, and the technological limitations of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and electric aircraft continue to challenge the pace of transformation. Yet, some airlines are setting the standard and demonstrating that proactive, scalable sustainability strategies can align both business and environmental goals.

Globally, legacy carriers and low-cost airlines alike are exploring multiple avenues of action. Delta Air Lines, for instance, has committed over $1 billion through 2030 to achieve carbon neutrality. The airline has focused on fleet modernization, carbon offsetting, SAF procurement, and operational efficiencies. Meanwhile, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has integrated sustainability into its customer experience by allowing passengers to contribute to SAF funding. Lufthansa, on the other hand, has experimented with carbon-free synthetic fuel and embedded green fuel options directly into its booking engine.

On the low-cost front, easyJet has adopted an aggressive carbon offsetting program and invested heavily in next-generation aircraft. Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, launched its “Decarbonization Pathway” and began incorporating Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into its fleet, reducing emissions by 16% per seat.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, the sustainability conversation is gaining traction, albeit unevenly. Singapore Airlines has made strides with SAF trials and is part of the Clean Skies for Tomorrow coalition, while ANA has embraced ESG reporting and circular waste practices.

In the Philippines, Cebu Pacific is emerging as an outlier, and potentially a model, in sustainable aviation among low-cost carriers in the Global South. Its 2024 Integrated Report reveals a multi-pronged, results-driven sustainability strategy that goes beyond the typical corporate social responsibility playbook.

Cebu Pacific’s decarbonization approach is both tactical and transparent. In 2023, the airline achieved its lowest carbon intensity since 2019: 80 grams of CO2 per revenue passenger kilometer (RPK), compared to the global average of 90 grams. It has also embarked on a very aggressive deployment of Airbus NEO aircraft, which consume 25% less fuel and emit less carbon than older models. The airline has committed to operating an all-NEO fleet by 2028.

But what truly differentiates Cebu Pacific is its move into sustainable finance. The airline became the first low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia to secure a sustainability-linked loan. Structured under a Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO), the financing arrangement directly ties economic benefits to environmental performance metrics, a rare and commendable alignment of ESG goals with capital strategy.

Beyond the fleet, Cebu Pacific is greening its ground operations. In partnership with ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions, it transitioned its headquarters and several other facilities to run on 100% renewable energy. LED retrofits, smart air-conditioning systems, and electric ground service equipment have been deployed to further reduce emissions. Its operations saved over 16 million kilograms of jet fuel in 2023 through better flight planning, reduced auxiliary power usage, and GPS-based route optimization, translating to nearly 51,000 tons of avoided carbon emissions.

The airline also embraces transparency and external validation. It received a Gold rating from the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) and an ESG score of 46 from S&P Global, making it one of the top performers in the region. Furthermore, Cebu Pacific is aligning with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the UN Global Compact, signaling that its ambitions are both credible and internationally benchmarked.

Indeed, the airline industry has taken great strides in making its business sustainable. But initiatives must go beyond emissions reductions and hardware upgrades. The industry’s value chain, from manufacturing to waste management, and from procurement to passenger behavior, offers numerous opportunities for innovation.

First, airlines should invest in circular economy practices. This includes recycling onboard waste, upcycling uniforms and cabin interiors, and eliminating single-use plastics. Airlines like Qantas and Emirates have started down this path, but broader adoption is needed.

Second, supply chain transparency and ethical sourcing must become the norm. Sustainable procurement policies that favor low-carbon suppliers, local sourcing, and responsible labor practices can ripple across the industry and amplify impact.

Third, sustainability-linked digital innovation remains largely untapped. Airlines can leverage AI and machine learning to optimize routes, predict maintenance needs (thus reducing fuel-wasting mechanical inefficiencies), and personalize carbon offset options during the booking process. Some are already experimenting with blockchain to improve supply chain traceability.

Fourth, the entire ecosystem, including airports, regulators, fuel providers, and manufacturers must collaborate on shared goals. For instance, increasing SAF availability requires public-private partnerships, infrastructure investment, and policy frameworks that de-risk early adoption. Airlines cannot do it alone.

Finally, customer engagement should not be an afterthought. Airlines have a powerful opportunity to educate and empower passengers through sustainability dashboards, eco-fare options, and carbon reduction tips. Transparency in reporting and open communication builds trust and drives loyalty in increasingly climate-conscious markets.

Cebu Pacific is already taking several of these steps. It has partnered with organizations for a voluntary carbon offset platform that allows passengers to directly contribute to emissions reduction. Internally, the airline has embedded ESG metrics into management scorecards, built sustainability literacy across employee levels, and aligned its disclosures with global standards.

To scale up its leadership further, Cebu Pacific could explore long-term SAF supply agreements, pilot electric ground transport, and further strengthen a green loyalty program that rewards passengers for sustainable choices. It could also play a convening role among regional carriers to push for SAF development in Southeast Asia, where infrastructure gaps remain a barrier.

The broader industry must also resist the temptation of short-term gains. The post-pandemic travel surge has revived profitability, but it must not derail climate commitments. The industry’s credibility hinges on the consistency between what it promises and what it delivers.

In an environment where stakeholders are increasingly discerning, regulators are tightening, and climate risks are growing, airlines must treat sustainability as an integrated business strategy, not a compliance requirement. Cebu Pacific’s example shows that even in resource-constrained settings, transformation is not only possible, it is profitable.

The skies may be the limit, but the journey toward sustainability is firmly grounded in choices made today. As the aviation sector navigates its most defining decade, Cebu Pacific offers a compelling flight plan: pragmatic, data-driven, inclusive, and above all, achievable.

 

Dr. Ron F. Jabal, APR, is the CEO of PAGEONE Group (www.pageonegroup.ph) and founder of Advocacy Partners Asia (www.advocacy.ph).

ron.jabal@pageone.ph

rfjabal@gmail.com

GCash looking to launch takaful, crop insurance products via GInsure marketplace in 2nd semester

BW FILE PHOTO

ELECTRONIC WALLET operator GCash is planning to launch Shari’ah-compliant and crop insurance products in the coming months through its in-app marketplace GInsure.

“We pretty soon will be having a Shari’ah-compliant insurance product for our Muslim brothers and sisters. That one, we’re in talks with an insurance company already. We are also in talks with an insurance company entity as well who does crop insurance for our farmers,” GCash Senior Manager and Partnerships and Business Development Head for GInsure Jay Young told reporters on the sidelines of the BusinessWorld Economic Forum 2025 held on Thursday.

Mr. Young said GCash aims to launch the takaful insurance product in the third quarter, while the crop insurance product could be released late in the fourth quarter.

The takaful product has already been approved by the Insurance Commission (IC) and is ready to be sold, he added.

GCash hopes to launch takaful insurance products through two of its partner insurers, the official said, which are currently the only two companies in the country that have takaful windows. Pru Life Insurance Corp. of UK Philippines (Pru Life UK) and Etiqa Life & General Assurance Philippines, Inc. received their takaful window operator licenses from the IC last year.

“The good thing about that though is that we’re already partners with Pru Life UK and we are also partners with Etiqa. So, hopefully [it will be released] through both,” Mr. Young said.

“The Pru Life product covers death due to accident and natural death. I think the Etiqa one is more on the personal accident side,” he added.

GCash is also looking to reposition some of its existing insurance products to cater to specific markets, Mr. Young said, such as products particularly designed for women, the underserved, or individuals living below the poverty line.

Life-to-date, GInsure has insured 20 million people as of the first quarter via 55 million policies, he said.

Out of 90 million GCash users, Mr. Young said 60 million are eligible to buy insurance. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

PSE told not to lose focus on key initiatives

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES should focus first on fine-tuning the implementation of measures that seek to boost the local stock market instead of launching new products, the country’s economic czar said.

“The minimum broker’s commission, reducing the stock transaction tax, allowing same-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) trading and streamlining the initial public offering (IPO) process — I think those are the main steps,” Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick D. Go told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the BusinessWorld Economic Forum in Taguig City on Thursday.

Mr. Go said market offerings in the pipeline of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) such as derivatives are “all OK but are not as important,” adding that the focus should be on ongoing initiatives.

“Those are all OK. They should look at all of those. But I think those are not as important as the ones we’ve already handled. The other things like derivatives are also steps in the right direction,” he added.

“We have to get the big things right, and just to make sure that they get implemented according to the intent of the law,” Mr. Go said. 

The PSE seeks to introduce derivative products, including options and future contracts, by next year.

Mr. Go said the Philippines has implemented various initiatives to boost participation in the Philippine stock market. These include allowing after-hours VWAP price trading on the same day, as well as shortening the IPO review timeline to 45 days from four to six months.

He added that the country has removed the minimum broker’s commission fee and introduced short selling.

“We have made significant strides to encourage listing in the Philippine stock market and improve participation in the Philippine capital markets,” he said. “Recognizing that the main issue in our market is liquidity, we have taken several steps to improve this.”

Mr. Go said the local stock market is also set to get a boost from the proposed Capital Market Efficiency Promotion Act, which is awaiting the signature of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

The measure will lower the tax on stock transactions to 0.1% from 0.6%.

“This should really help liquidity and trading in the Philippine stock market,” Mr. Go said. “I am aware that many small entrepreneurs start their businesses with the goal of someday doing an IPO for their company in the Philippine stock market.”

“It will be signed into law very soon,” he added.

Mr. Go said the bourse should think of ways to spur interest amid weak demand for short-selling, which was launched in November 2023.

“I think there are still some issues,” he said. “From what I understand, the issues there are with the PSE and Bureau of Internal Revenue. They need to unlock those obstacles.”

Mr. Go said the stock market had been hampered by uncertainty when asked about his IPO outlook for the year. The PSE expects six IPOs this year.

“I don’t think that the application process is the obstacle,” he said. “It’s market conditions.”

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 1.09% or 69.98 points to 6,305.37, while the broader all-share index fell 0.79% or 29.76 points to 3,708.18.

Universal’s new Epic Universe park challenges Disney in Florida

ORLANDO, Florida — For decades, Universal Orlando Resort was a pit stop on a vacationer’s way to the “Most Magical Place on Earth,” Walt Disney World.

Now, NBCUniversal owner Comcast aims to rewrite the travel itinerary with Epic Universe, a major new theme park in Central Florida set to open on Thursday.

An estimated $7-billion investment has doubled the resort’s size, adding 750 acres and populating it with familiar movie and game characters, which it owns or licenses. It features five themed worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon-Isle of Berk, Celestial Park, and Dark Universe.

Epic Universe represents the largest investment Comcast has made in Universal’s theme parks since gaining control of the business in 2011. Analysts say it poses a heightened competitive threat to Walt Disney World, whose last major expansion was in 2019.

“This is the one part of the media ecosystem that is not vulnerable to screen-shifting. It’s still beloved as a thing to do with friends and family,” Comcast President Mike Cavanaugh told Reuters on Tuesday. “It would be silly not to be stepping on the gas.”

Comcast’s big investment in parks is one of six areas that will contribute to growth. The Experiences group is experimenting with new concepts, including the August launch of a permanent attraction in Las Vegas, Universal Horror Unleashed. It includes four haunted houses inspired by movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Exorcist: Believer. A family-friendly regional park, Universal Kids Resort, debuts next year in Frisco, Texas, inspired by Shrek, Minions, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

“One of our key pillars of growth is how we bring the Universal brand to new audiences in new markets,” Mark Woodbury, chairman of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said in an interview. “And you can see that in our Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, for our horror genre venue in Las Vegas.”

Universal also has another major theme park resort planned for the United Kingdom, Comcast’s first in Europe.

The theme park business is not without risk. It’s vulnerable to economic downturns — something the industry experienced during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Comcast Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts said he is comfortable making long-term, capital-intensive bets.

“When you find something extraordinary, that’s when you make these bets,” said Mr. Roberts, citing the example of the first Harry Potter themed land in Orlando. “When that Harry Potter opened, I think there was a massive increase in attendance the next day, and it never went backwards.”

WINNING STREAK
Disney has dominated the Orlando scene since Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom opened in 1971.

In 2023, Walt Disney World attracted 48.8 million visitors, more than double Universal’s attendance of 19.8 million that year, according to a report from the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM.

Epic could “siphon off at least some of the demand,” Moffett Nathanson analyst Craig Moffett wrote in an investor report about Epic Universe’s potential impact on Disney.

Mr. Moffett predicts Epic Universe could attract 9.5 million visitors in 2026, and bring in more than $1.3 billion in revenue. Some of those gains will come at the expense of other parks, including Disney’s, which Mr. Moffett estimates could lose 1 million guests over the next two years. In time, it could draw 13 million visitors a year, more than either of its sister parks, he estimates.

“In the long run, I think it makes Orlando an even more attractive vacation destination,” said TD Cowen analyst Doug Creutz. “That’s probably good for Disney.”

Universal’s theme park business has been rooted in its moviemaking from its earliest days offering studio tours a century ago. When Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990, it promoted the park as offering the chance to “ride the movies.”

The opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter marked a watershed moment for Universal’s Orlando resort, helping to fuel attendance with an experience that faithfully recreated the Warner Bros. movies. A second Potter-themed attraction, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley, opened in 2014.

Ever since Universal tapped into J.K. Rowling’s fantasy world, Mr. Moffett said it has been “on an asterisk-free winning streak.”

Ahead of the Epic Universe launch, Disney has reassured investors about its theme parks business.

Disney told investors that bookings at Walt Disney World remain strong over the next two fiscal quarters. It has been making steady improvements to its Florida resort to keep the experience fresh for visitors, including adding the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind spinning roller coaster at Epcot in 2022, and the TRON Lightcycle Run roller coaster in the Magic Kingdom in 2023. It plans to spend $60 billion over a decade to “turbocharge” growth in its parks and cruise businesses.

In April, Disney began offering half-price tickets for children ages three to nine this summer, and cut by half the downpayment Florida residents make to purchase annual passes. — Reuters

US judge blocks Treasury bid to cancel IRS union contract

REUTERS

A FEDERAL JUDGE has rejected a bid by the US Treasury Department to cancel a union contract covering tens of thousands of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) staff, an early blow to President Donald Trump’s efforts to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many federal workers.

US District Judge Danny Reeves in Lexington, Kentucky, said in a written opinion that the department lacked legal standing to bring a lawsuit against the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

After Mr. Trump issued an executive order exempting Treasury and other agencies from union bargaining obligations, the agency sued an affiliate of the NTEU that represents Internal Revenue Service employees, to invalidate a bargaining agreement reached in 2022.

Mr. Reeves, an appointee of Republican former President George W. Bush, dismissed the case, saying the lawsuit was premature because Treasury had not yet taken any steps to implement Mr. Trump’s order.

“This decision says nothing of the merits of the case,” the judge wrote. “Had Treasury filed suit in response to an invasion or threatened invasion of its sovereign right to enforce (Trump’s order), a different result likely would have been reached.”

A US appeals court last week paused a ruling by a judge in Washington, DC, that had blocked seven agencies including Treasury from implementing Mr. Trump’s order in a lawsuit by the NTEU.

The White House, the Treasury Department and the NTEU did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mr. Trump in the executive order excluded from collective bargaining obligations agencies that he said, “have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work.”

The order applies to the Justice, State, Defense, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services departments, among other agencies. The NTEU has said the order applies to about 100,000 of its 160,000 members.

The Treasury Department sued the NTEU affiliate a day after Mr. Trump issued the order, seeking a declaration that gave Treasury the authority to end its bargaining relationship with the union.

The department said that federal civil service law empowers the president to exempt agencies from bargaining when he deems it necessary to protect national security, and that courts lack the authority to review and second guess those determinations.

NTEU and other federal worker unions have accused Mr. Trump of issuing the order to punish them for bringing legal challenges to a number of his policies.

US District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington, DC, ruled in the NTEU’s lawsuit in April that Mr. Trump had not adequately justified reversing decades of practice and exempting large swaths of the federal workforce from bargaining. But an appeals court panel in blocking that ruling said it was likely to be overturned on appeal.

Eight federal agencies have filed a separate lawsuit against the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal worker union, seeking to invalidate existing union contracts covering thousands of workers. The union has moved to dismiss that case, with a hearing scheduled for June. — Reuters

Filipino Heritage and a tribute to Sylvia La Torre

“Our heritage is our identity. This is why we protect it, preserve it and pass it on. R.A. 11961 makes sure our culture lives on — for us, and for the next generation. Happy National Heritage Month!,” said Kiko Benitez, now Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (better known as TESDA), and formerly the congressman who authored the law in 2023 to strengthen heritage protection. It was revised in 2024 to include mandatory cultural mapping, protection of UNESCO-Designated properties, and safeguarding ecclesiastical heritage.

It has been two decades since May was declared National Heritage Month. The country celebrates the occasion with colorful festivals of music, dance, art, cultural exhibits, food, essay competitions, workshops on art and history, and heritage tours throughout the archipelago, many under the auspices of the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. (FHFI).

This is also the month when little girls offer flowers to our Blessed Mother, the patroness of May. There are religious processions in town plazas with important characters in costumes such as Reina Elena and the Imperatriz.

Mita Bantug Rufino, the founder and president of FHFI, remarked: “As I look back on the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc., I wonder how, and what, we have done with the 20 years of the company. It seems like we experience birth pains each year.

“Looking back, it has been a fruitful journey for the group. Tough as it has been, I can say that it was all worth the commitment and dedication we have given. Our partners, sponsors, and friends believe in us, and they all help us keep going forward and moving forward.”

She expressed her gratitude to their partners: the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Metropolitan Theater Manila, Security Bank Corp., the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., better known as PAGCOR, Manila Broadcasting Co., and DDB Group Philippines.

HONORING SYLVIA LA TORRE
This year’s major event is the concert Ibyang, Mahal Kita. The musical tribute is significant as it recognizes the famous and well-loved soprano Sylvia La Torre.

Soprano Rachelle Gerodias recalled that it all began in 2021 during a conversation with publicist and cultural worker Danny Dolor. Ms. Gerodias asked why Ms. La Torre was not named National Artist.

The fact was that Ms. La Torre was not eligible for the highest distinction given to artists by the Philippines because of her American citizenship. Her family had migrated to the USA in the 1970s and she later became a naturalized American citizen.

“When I discovered this, I felt deeply disappointed,” Ms. Gerodias said. “To me — and to countless Filipinos who have admired her work — Ms. Sylvia La Torre, our beloved ‘Queen of Kundiman’ is more than deserving of that honor. Regardless of technicalities, she will always be a ‘National Artist,’” she emphasized.

“I expressed my thoughts to Mr. Dolor, who was equally passionate and excited about the idea of honoring her legacy through a tribute concert. Sadly, he passed away before we could begin planning,” she said.

“In honor of my Ninong Danny and with immense admiration for Ms. La Torre, I felt a strong sense of purpose to carry this tribute forward,” she said.

She expressed that she is grateful to have the support of FHFI’s Ms. Rufino who is producing the concert; Dennis Marasigan of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, who wrote the script and is directing the show; the Metropolitan Theater which extended a generous venue grant; and to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for their support.

“Most especially I want to acknowledge Ms. Dolor Serrano-De Leon, the niece of Danny Dolor, whose contribution helped make this tribute possible,” said the renowned soprano.

“This concert is more than a personal homage. It is a celebration for all Filipinos. Sylvia La Torre is a monumental figure in our cultural history, she seamlessly crossed the boundaries of radio, television, theater, and film. She remains the most recorded artist of the kundiman. She earned the titles ‘Queen of Kundiman’ and ‘First Lady of Philippine Television.’ Her artistry, influence, and achievements continue to resonate,” Ms. Gerodias said.

“That it continues to inspire future generations of Filipino artists through this tribute, we aim to honor her enduring legacy and ensure that it continues to inspire future generations of Filipino artists and audiences. It is a heartfelt gesture of gratitude to someone who has given so much to our cultural identity,” she said.

“I did not have any second thoughts when I was invited to direct the show, knowing the legacy of Sylvia La Torre and having had the privilege of working with her as a Stage Manager for show she did at the Manila Metropolitan Theater in the early ’80s,” said Mr. Marasigan, the concert’s director.

He emphasized the significance of mounting this production.

“First, it would serve as a tribute to someone who has contributed a lot to Philippine arts and entertainment. Second, it can re-introduce her to a new generation of Filipinos who may no longer be familiar with her and her achievements.

“Sylvia La Torre is a multi-hyphenate performer, having achieved success on the stage, radio, television, and film as well as in the recording industry. Even if she has not been conferred the Order of National Artist, she is already one in the hearts and minds of many Filipinos. In fact, she is one who can deservedly be called an Artist of and for the Filipino people,” he stated.

The concert will also feature Byeong In Park, Danspace, Wincess Yana, and Tinig Kayumanggi, accompanied by the UST Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Daniel Bartolome.

It will be held at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on May 29, with a 2 p.m. performance which is open to the public, and an invitational 7 p.m. show. Tickets are available at https://www.ticketmelon.com/filipino-heritage/2pm-ibyang-mahal-kita. For more information about Heritage Month events, visit the FHFI Facebook page.

Our best wishes to the family of Ms. Sylvia La Torre who are based in the USA: Artie, Bernie, and Cheche.

Mabuhay to Filipino Heritage Festival, the participating artists and museums in the events being held in different cities of the country.

 

Maria Victoria Rufino is an artist, writer and businesswoman. She is president and executive producer of Maverick Productions.

mavrufino@gmail.com

1...708709710...13,407Page 709 of 13,407
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube