Mega Global targets IPO by 2025

November 24, 2021 | 12:07 am

By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter

SARDINES MAKER Mega Global Corp. is aiming to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) of its shares by 2025 provided that the company sustains its revenue growth.

Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan, Mega Global chief operating officer, said in a virtual round table on Tuesday that the IPO is in the horizon as the company seeks to double its revenues by 2025.

“By 2025, we hope that we will be able to reach that. And if we do, with the help of everyone, you can help us in [the] IPO of our company by 2025. It really depends,” Ms. Lim-Chan said.

Further, Mega Global Chief Growth and Development Officer Marvin Tiu Lim said the company is gearing up for the possible IPO.

“Even if we do or do not go to an IPO, our goal is to become ‘IPO-able,’ meaning that the company is transparent, we have the right people, the right plans and projects,” Mr. Lim said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Lim-Chan said the company is aiming to maintain its double-digit growth in terms of sales and production for 2022.

She also confirmed that Mega Global will open its multi-use manufacturing plant in Batangas by the first quarter of 2022.

“Our [Batangas] plant will serve as the central research and development hub and a production site that will help in augmenting the growing demand for our products especially in Luzon. It is seen to have a contribution of 20%-30% of Mega Global’s target sales and growth for 2022 and beyond,” Ms. Lim-Chan said.

Further, Mr. Lim said the company had been able to hit its targets and is upbeat about its performance in 2021, adding that Mega Global will be aggressive in 2022.

“We want to come up with more products, better sales, and a better company,” Mr. Lim said.

He also disclosed that the company’s capital expenditure budget for 2022 will be lower than usual. He did not provide any specific figure.

“We are just completing our major plant. That costs us a lot. Next year, it is going to be a bit lower than expected because we need to recoup. But in terms of distribution and facilities, majority of them are still there. We are still continuing to build ships on our own,” Mr. Lim said.

NPC links spam texts to global crime syndicate

November 24, 2021 | 12:06 am

THE National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Tuesday said a global crime syndicate might be behind the recent Short Message Service (SMS)-based phishing attacks, or smishing.

Smishing attacks use text messages to trick mobile-phone users into visiting malicious websites.

“If our initial findings prove true, that personal data are being exploited by criminals abroad, then this also becomes a matter of national security,” Privacy Commissioner Raymund E. Liboro said in a statement.

Smart Communications, Inc., the wireless arm of PLDT, Inc., said it had observed a nearly three-fold increase in spam messages since June this year.

“While those blocked for phishing/scamming via SMS, e-mails, as reported by customers (banks) and through information we acquire via our threat intelligence operation, for the first 23 days of November alone, we have already hit a record number for any month this year, in terms mobile numbers blocked for phishing/scamming across all sources,” Smart said in a statement.

Smart blocked an average of 400 to 500 mobile numbers daily from Oct. 21 to Nov. 20. The numbers were linked to SMS hoax and spam.

The telco also blocked 40 domains and IP addresses used by online scammers, Smart noted.

On Monday, Globe Telecom, Inc. said that it deactivated 5,670 confirmed spam numbers and blocked nearly 71 million spam messages this year.

The NPC wants the country’s major telco operators, e-commerce platforms Lazada and Shopee, and some banks to report on their spam prevention measures.

“We have summoned them to detail their current and future measures to combat smishing,” Mr. Liboro said.

“Ultimately, we want to secure their commitment and focus in fighting these fraudulent practices so we can best strategize how to block these messages and protect our data subjects,” he added.

In October, the NPC said it had received reports of leaked contact tracing data, which resulted in phishing attacks via mobile phone texts.

The commission said the complaints linked the incidents to personal information given in contact tracing and health declaration forms.

But on Tuesday, the commission said: “The recent smishing activities are run by a global crime syndicate, not by a group that has gained unauthorized access to contact tracing forms, which was one of the first suspicions.”

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

DoE says claims of West Philippine Sea exploration contracts ‘speculative’

November 24, 2021 | 12:05 am

THE Department of Energy (DoE) described as “speculative” claims by a senator that the agency recommended the awarding of two service contracts to a unit of Udenna Corp. to explore areas in the West Philippine Sea.

“The resolution is speculative, but [the DoE] will be ready to answer at the appropriate time,” Energy Assistant Secretary Gerardo D. Erguiza, Jr. told BusinessWorld on Tuesday in a text message.

“There are many allegations that need factual validation,” he added, noting that several companies had already been awarded service contracts to explore oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea.

The DoE said the government previously awarded Service Contract (SC) 54 and 58 to Nido Petroleum Philippines Pty. Ltd.; SC 59 to Philippine National Oil Co. Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC); SC 72 to Forum (GSEC101) Ltd; and SC 75 to PXP Energy Corp.

Under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCECP), companies can apply and bid to explore identified petroleum blocks in the country. They may also nominate areas for exploration.

In a document obtained by BusinessWorld, the DoE has evaluated proposals which it eventually endorsed to the Office of the President for the award of service contracts.

The companies that have applied for a service contract, and were said to be endorsed for an award, to explore areas in the Philippines are PNOC-EC for 932,000 hectares in East Palawan; PXP Energy for 1.43 million hectares in the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea; SK Liguasan Oil and Gas Co. for 72,000 hectares in Cotabato; and Udenna Energy Corp. for two areas in the Recto Bank — one spreading 1.5 million hectares and the other 1.4 hectares.

The DoE confirmed the endorsement, but declined to comment further. BusinessWorld sought a statement from Udenna Energy Corp. but did not get a response as of deadline.

Mr. Erguiza’s remarks came after Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel on Thursday filed Senate Resolution 950 urging the Senate energy committee to conduct an inquiry on Udenna’s acquisition of assets in the waterway and its impact on the nation’s security and economic interests.

“The Malampaya project is very important to the daily lives of Filipinos. We should make sure that no law was broken, and that the public’s interests are not prejudiced in transactions related to these vital national assets,” Ms. Hontiveros said in a statement on Friday.

The lawmaker was referring to separate deals between Udenna’s units and the two consortium partners that each held a stake of 45% in the Malampaya gas-to-power project.

Udenna, a company led by Davao City businessman Dennis A. Uy, is poised to control 90% of the deepwater gas field if the government approves the takeover. State-led PNOC-EC holds the remaining 10%.

The Energy department earlier cited geological surveys that said there was a good probability that the Malampaya-Camago gas field contains untapped sources of fossil energy.

Ms. Hontiveros pointed out that Udenna paid for the Malampaya shares not with existing assets, but with loans from various banks. In return, she said Udenna is set to earn a projected income of nearly $1.2 billion from its stake.

She said that the Energy department also recommended the award of two service contracts covering areas in the Recto Bank — an underwater formation said to contain most of the oil and natural gas in the West Philippine Sea — to the Udenna group.

Ms. Hontiveros said that by allowing Udenna to control both the Malampaya project and its gas pipeline, as well as fossil energy resources in the Recto Bank, the DoE and PNOC “not only deprived the government of a substantial source of revenue, but also allowed private — and possibly foreign — interests an undue advantage over the nation through the possession of its vital strategic assets.”

The proposed measure stated that despite the number of requests from private joint venture partners to extend SC 38 to allow the exploration and development of untapped sources, the DoE has thus far failed to act on them, making it unlikely that these resources can be brought online before their expected depletion starting in 2024.

SC 38 is the agreement between the Malampaya consortium partners with the government. It covers the offshore gas field.

“If the government had matched Udenna’s offer, it would have been guaranteed a net income of around $275 million for around four years, until the existing wells are depleted by 2024,” said Ms. Hontiveros.

“By failing to exercise its right of first refusal, the government was deprived of hundreds of millions of dollars which we could have used to meet the people’s needs,” she added.

The DoE earlier said that PNOC-EC did not exercise its right to match Udenna’s offer because doing so runs counter to its mandate. — Marielle C. Lucenio and Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

POC ethics committee to probe Obiena-PATAFA controversy

November 24, 2021 | 12:05 am

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham N. Tolentino has ordered their ethics committee to probe into the controversy involving Tokyo Olympian pole-vaulter Ernest John Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

“We are in deepest regret to realize that one of our Olympians, multi-medalist and great inspiration Ernest John Obiena of athletics, to be involved in this squabble with his home federation,” said Mr. Tolentino.

The PhilCycling chief said losing the 25-year-old Mr. Obiena to retirement would deal Philippine sports a big blow.

“I am very disappointed. They could have handled the situation internally absent of any misfires from both parties. A bountiful career is now in peril,” said the congressman from Tagaytay City.

The Southeast Asian Games, Asian record-holder and World No. 5 threatened to quit if PATAFA would not issue a public apology and retract accusations that the former allegedly falsified liquidations and failed to pay Ukrainian mentor Vitaly Petrov his coaching fees.

Mr. Obiena flatly denied all these.

“Needless to say, we, Filipinos, will be deprived of two gold medals in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in 2022 and in Cambodia 2023, not to mention another one in the Asian Games also next year and most importantly, a representation in the Paris Olympics come 2024, due to the fiasco in the leadership of his organization,” said Mr. Obiena.

“We could have easily propagated this achievement to the youth by proper guidance and genuine attitude,” he added.

The issue may also cause Philippine sports the loss of its 2022 funding after the Senate recalled on Monday night the P1.574-billion 2022 allocation to sports after showing dismay over the hands-off stance by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) regarding the impasse.

“Since the PSC is the source of funds, it could have easily — under its mandate — intervened and corrected the same from the very beginning,” said Mr. Tolentino. “But we in the POC will be steadfast and for the sake of Olympism and impartiality, will go into the details and investigate the matter.”

The STAR tried to get the side of PSC Chairman William Ramirez but has yet to reply at press time. — Joey Villar

Music that soothes the soul

November 24, 2021 | 12:05 am

By Patricia B. Mirasol

Music therapy is the clinical use of music to improve an individual’s physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. It benefits those with conditions such as depression, dementia, and speech disability.

“[It] has three main components: the music, the therapist, and the client,” said Cleofe B. Toribio, coordinator of St. Paul University Manila (SPUM)’s Music Therapy Department, in an e-mail to BusinessWorld. While the practice is led by a certified music therapist, she said, one need not be with a professional to enjoy the benefits music-related activities like singing bring.

SLOW SONGS AND HEARTBEATS
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, music therapy is an allied health profession that delivers health services outside the scope of those provided by doctors and nurses. It aids in lowering blood pressure, improving memory, reducing muscle tension, and increasing motivation.

Rhythmic entrainment, which refers to how two independent rhythmic processes synchronize with each other, explains why a person’s heartbeat slows down as they listen to slow music. Melodic intonation therapy, meanwhile, uses melody and song to help stroke victims regain speech.

Music therapists, Ms. Toribio said, collaborate with diverse healthcare professionals. Ms. Toribio herself has led sessions with support groups for breast cancer survivors, men with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and cardiac patients. She has also been invited to speak to patients with stroke and Parkinson’s disease at St. Luke’s Medical Center.

“So far, I have not seen regression in terms of the cognitive and physical functioning of my clients with dementia since I started working in 2018,” she said. “Music therapy is not just for persons with disabilities… It is [also] for children, adolescents, and adults.”

EASING STRESS
The clinical discipline is also a boon to university students striving to excel in a school year beset by pandemic disruptions. In De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), music wellness activities are held twice every term — once before the midterm, and again before the final examinations.

The program tuneIN: Music and Wellness is the brainchild of the college’s Music Production program. Launched in December 2020, it aims to ease the stress of students during the pandemic.

“I’d already made plans of holding a music wellness activity to cater to students and associates [even before the pandemic],” Program Chair Patrick August Anthony S. Frias told BusinessWorld in an e-mail. “[This activity] was only converted to a virtual session because of the lockdowns.”

Making music with others, he added, promotes empathy and helps people cope with physical distancing restrictions.

“It is a form of psycho-social development, which reduces seclusion and helps heal an individual from within. It is one of the most effective means of communication and socialization among individuals,” Mr. Frias said.

The virtual sessions are open to non-Benildeans.

HAPPY HORMONES
In music therapy, a list of interventions is created based on a client’s goals and objectives, said Janine Marie R. Flores, Music Production faculty of DLS-CSB and a music therapy graduate student of SPUM.

A set of interventions for coping with stress, for instance, may include lyric analysis for identifying and acknowledging emotions, or moving to music for releasing body tensions.

“Music therapy requires knowledge in other fields, such as education, psychology, and medicine,” said Ms. Flores, who hosted the latest tuneIN session. “There is a system process that involves different methods… when facilitating a music therapy session.”

In her classes, Ms. Flores uses these activities to promote awareness of self and of others:

Listening to music — picking a song that may or may not be related to the lesson, lettingstudents listen to it, and then having them assess how they feel before and after listening to the song;

Creating a playlist — compiling a list of songs that correspond to one’s music preferences, which in turn helps support creativity, memory, and mood. “Listening to… personal music preferences releases ‘happy hormones,’ which boosts our mood and makes us feel good,” she told BusinessWorld.

For more information on music therapy in the Philippines, contact musictherapy@spumanila.edu.ph or seniorhubjupiter@gmail.com. For updates on upcoming tuneIN wellness sessions, check DLS-CSB’s Music Production program on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/benildemusicproduction.

Citi in talks with other parties on retail unit sale

November 24, 2021 | 12:04 am

CITIGROUP, INC. is still in talks with financial institutions that are interested to acquire its retail business in the Philippines, an official said.

“There’s been plenty of speculation locally about which banks have bid for the asset, because it is obviously a fantastic asset. And there’s been a very broad range of buyers who are interested in the business,” James A. Griffiths, Citi Asia head for media relations, said in an online briefing on Tuesday.

“We plan to conclude this and will get deals announced by the second quarter or second half of 2022,” Mr. Griffiths said.

The global banking group announced in April that it will exit its consumer business in 13 Asia-Pacific markets including the Philippines. Meanwhile, it will continue to operate its corporate arm.

Mr. Griffiths declined to name the parties that have expressed interest in acquiring Citi’s retail portfolio, saying this is confidential.

“Our priority right now is to conclude this with the transaction that makes the best sense for both our people and for our clients. Conversations are continuing,” he said.

Top officials from lenders including BDO Unibank, Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands and East West Banking Corp. have previously said they are interested in acquiring Citi’s local retail banking business.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has said it will monitor Citi’s exit plan and has been coordinating with the lender’s local unit for a smooth transition.

The regulator has also directed Citi Philippines to address client concerns regarding the impending exit.

Citi Philippines officials have said it will be business as usual for their credit card and bank account holders in the meantime.

Citibank, N.A. has total assets worth P352.975 billion as of end-June, making it the country’s 12^th biggest lender, based on latest BSP data.

The lender’s presence in the Philippines dates back to 1902. It has over 8,000 employees across its corporate and retail businesses as well as in service centers. — L.W.T. Noble

Obiena wants to clear name in court of law

November 24, 2021 | 12:04 am

THE Ernest John Obiena issue has shifted to a legal battle.

The Tokyo Olympian pole-vaulter is planning to ask the help of the court of law in proving his innocence over allegations by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) that he falsified liquidations and failed to pay coaching fees of Ukrainian Vitaly Petrov.

“I will clear my name. I will raise all legal challenges and I want this to be put into a court of law where all evidence must be exposed,” said Mr. Obiena in his recent social media post.

The World No. 5 lashed out at PATAFA for leaking a statement by former world and Olympic champion Sergey Bubka saying he has nothing to do with the issue and has no knowledge regarding his transactions with Mr. Petrov.

“This seems legitimate. But it also reads clearly that PATAFA somehow construed this entire case and cajoled Bubka into making this statement,” said Mr. Obiena. “Simple question: What does the president of the Ukraine Olympic Committee have to do with this case?

“He is a great champion that I look up to, but he knows nothing of the situation between myself, my coach, and Philippine athletics, and plays no role with my team.

“It is confusing that he got somehow involved,” he added.

Even though the impasse is getting worse, Mr. Obiena is still entertaining hopes of settling the issue amicably even if he feels PATAFA doesn’t want to.

“I am willing to ‘make peace’ on this case, but I must have my good name cleared. I do not hold out much hope. It is clear that I am not wanted by my federation in any shape or form,” said Mr. Obiena.

“I am attacked without any due process and now narrative and accusations have somehow changed. I am cut from funding and left figuring it out somehow here in Italy. I am destroyed mentally. And the attacks keep coming. Clearly, I am not wanted,” he added. — Joey Villar

To ease work-from-home stress, set boundaries

November 24, 2021 | 12:04 am

COMMON mental health–related issues that families run into at home are stress from interactions, lack of privacy, and inability to bond despite being in a shared environment due to busy schedules, according to counselors at the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s webinar on dealing with the effects of the pandemic on family.

“There’s different dynamics when at home and when at work,” said Candy D. Mauricio, managing director of the Centre for Mastery and Life-Long Learning (CML). “Given that most are currently working from home in an environment exposed to other family members where we have a different disposition, that itself is already quite challenging.”

It’s important to recognize the family situation, respond appropriately, and refer to others for help if it gets too much to handle, she said.

“Even a hybrid work setup has stressful situations, such as arranging who is free to do chores or who takes up spaces when one person is not there,” she added.

Michael Lu, CML’s chief transformation officer and executive coach, recommended setting boundaries at home to deal with these issues.

“We have to practice boundaries at home, starting with physical space,” he said. “You can do this by zoning, or assigning people to certain spaces.”

CHILD, ADULT, PARENT
Everyone has different sources of stress and also different coping responses to stress — and it all depends on whether one is acting as a child, adult, or parent.

Though it can be taken literally as in a family situation, a person can be more of a child with some people and an adult with others, according to the counselors from CML. This way of seeing one’s motivations can help determine how to address various dynamics.

“Based on research, at least one of these three is where all people are coming from,” said Ms. Mauricio. “They are the pillars of trauma, which make people feel [they are] not enough or do not belong.”

A parent, for example, seeks control and acts as a protector in order to get acceptance: “You are a parent in a situation if you often use the phrase ‘you must’ or ‘you should.’”

Meanwhile, a child feels they are not good or worthy enough. They seek recognition, achievement, and the validation that comes with it. The strengths of a child are creativity, spontaneity, and emotiveness.

The third type is an adult, who focuses on problem-solving and asking questions like “what is needed?” or “what’s the reason?”

“Adults analyze the situation, plan out the best solution, and observe the interactions,” said Ms. Mauricio.

Understanding oneself is required to process one’s feelings, she added, which then allows an individual to consider where everyone else is coming from.

Mr. Lu suggested an exercise of emotional freedom: “You can practice telling yourself what you’re feeling and that it’s normal to feel that way. Take deep breaths in between.”

Aside from reminding each other that there’s no need to be alone and that there are always choices in any difficult situation, the important thing is self-care.

“Self-care isn’t being selfish,” Ms. Mauricio explained. “It’s not about ‘me first,’ but it’s a statement where we remind ourselves that we are the first person responsible for the self, to make sure we can stop for ourselves in order to move for others.” — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Ayala unit set to co-own Batangas Clean Energy

November 24, 2021 | 12:04 am

ACE Enexor, Inc. (ACEX) and Gen X Energy L.P. is set to acquire 50% each of shares in Batangas Clean Energy, Inc. (BCE), subject to clearance from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, ACEX said that a shareholders’ agreement, if finalized, will allow the company to develop and eventually co-own and operate a 1,100-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant in Batangas. The plant will use either natural gas or green hydrogen for fuel.

ACEX said the company will subscribe to a 50% interest in BCE, equivalent to 150,002 shares with a total subscription price of about P150.22 million.

The listed firm’s real estate affiliate, Buendia Christiana Holdings Corp. (BCHC), is also set to assign its option to lease the potential site of the power plant to BCE.

The joint venture was approved by the respective boards of the companies involved, and was disclosed on Nov. 12.

ACEX, a subsidiary of Ayala-led ACEN Corp., is involved in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas.

ACEN currently has a total of 2,900 MW of attributable capacity in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Australia. Up to 80% of that capacity is said to be comprised of renewable energy.

It is also one of the energy companies in the country that committed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Meanwhile, Gen X Energy is a portfolio company of alternative asset management firm Blackstone, Inc.

Shares in ACEX at the stock exchange went up by 2.52% or 55 centavos on Tuesday to close at P22.40 apiece. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Robinsons Bank says its card business is starting to rebound

November 24, 2021 | 12:03 am

CREDIT CARD applications are starting to improve after a slowdown during the start of the pandemic last year, a Robinsons Bank Corp. official said.

Robinsons Bank Head of Cards Maire K. Dadufalza said employment uncertainties seen during the initial stages of the pandemic caused Filipinos to became hesitant to apply for credit cards.

“The pandemic affected the turn-ins. It seems there was a conscious hesitation in applying,” she said at a briefing on Tuesday. “Right now, we are seeing an improvement in the interest in credit card applications.”

A cap on credit card charges set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been tough on business, Robinsons Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Elfren Antonio S. Sarte said.

“But we understand the objectives, especially in the time of pandemic so we just have to absorb it to help our clients and all the banks and adjusting our own costs to cope up,” he said.

“It’s a temporary hit on a lot of us in terms of our financial profitability for the credit card, but it doesn’t make the product unprofitable. We just have to adjust certain things to make sure that we can continuously serve our clients.”

The BSP set an annual interest rate cap of 24% or an applicable monthly rate of up to 2% on unpaid outstanding credit card balances. The central bank also set a 1% limit on monthly add-on rates for credit card installment loans.

Credit card issuers cannot set charges on credit card cash advances other than a maximum processing fee of P200 per transaction.

Meanwhile, Robinsons Bank and Mastercard on Tuesday announced a partnership with Pru Life UK for a credit card exclusively offered to the insurance company’s policyholders.

The credit card gives policyholders “convenience of a streamlined payment facility when paying their insurance premium, eliminating the risk of missed payments,” Mr. Sarte said.

Pru Life UK aims to register 50,000 policyholders for the credit cards within the first year since its launch. — Jenina P. Ibañez

STI reports 18% enrollment increase

November 24, 2021 | 12:03 am

STI Education Systems Holdings, Inc. reported an 18% increase in enrollment for this school year, which totaled 82,629 compared with last year’s 70,223 after a 40% climb in students signing up for college.

In a disclosure to the exchange on Tuesday, the listed educational institution said it saw 56,342 students enroll in its tertiary education programs for the school year 2021 to 2022, up from the 40,176 logged in the previous school year.

“The significant growth in significant growth can be attributed to the group’s consistent enrollment strategies, aggressive recruitment, and innovative online learning delivery and world-class curriculum that are responsive to the trends and challenges in the country’s educational landscape,” STI Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer Monico V. Jacob said.

STI Holdings starts its fiscal year on July 1. For its first quarter, STI Holdings trimmed its net attributable loss to P114.23 million, 44% lower from the P202.64 million logged in the same period last year.

The increase in enrollment pushed STI Holdings’ gross profit higher by 61% to P186.9 million from P115.8 million. Its topline posted a 27% growth to P375.26 million from P296.64 million.

Bacolod-based STI West Negros University, Inc. posted the biggest enrollment increase among STI institutions, logging a 36% growth with 7,580 students enrolled this school year from 5,584.

STI Holdings said classes for its tertiary and senior high school students of STI Education Services Group (STI ESG) and STI WNU began on Sept. 13, while STI WNU’s School of Graduate Studies began on Oct. 2.

All classes are still conducted online through STI’s ONline and ONsite Education at STI (ONE STI) Learning Model for the STI ESG and STI WNU, while the Guided Online Autonomous Learning program is used for iAcademy.

STI shares at the local bourse on Tuesday went up by 2.94% or one centavo to close at 35 centavos per share. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Despite pandemic, artists show their work at first Visayas Art Fair

November 24, 2021 | 12:03 am

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AFTER over a year in lockdown, artists from the Visayas have come together to showcase their works in Cebu City.

A collaboration between Cebu Design Week (CDW) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Visayas Art Fair will be held on Nov. 25 to 28 at the Montebello Villa Hotel, Cebu City.

Carrying the theme “Connecting the Islands Through Art,” the fair brings together artists from Regions 6, 7, and 8 to showcase Visayan identity, arts, and culture, with the goal “to have a diverse set of participants and our decision makers to celebrate the great diversity and craftsmanship of the Visayas region,” says the art fair’s brochure.

“We want to give a good stage for the artists that we have,” Visayas Art Fair Main Events Chairperson Lorenza Bacquiran said during an online press launch on Nov. 11. “The enthusiasm from artists and different artist groups are incredible. They are just waiting for the right time to get together in one venue to be presented to the world.”

WHAT’S IN STORE
Galleries, art collectives, and artists from all over the Visayas region and National Capital Region (NCR) will display their works and art installations. There will be 17 participating galleries from the Visayas, and nine from the National Capital Region.

The participating galleries from Visayas are: Adeste Deguilmo, Art Portal, CAI, Dramus Art Gallery, Florentino, Jose Picornell, Lloyd Tronco and Anthony Fermin, NANO, Napoleon Gallery, Orange Project, PASPI, PONT Studio, Quebe Gallery, Southwest Art Club, Solitaryo Cinco, and Jose T. Joya Gallery-UP Cebu.

The participating organizations from the NCR are: 1335 Mabini, the Art Association of the Philippines, Galeria Lienzo, Metro Gallery, Mono8 Gallery, R Gallery, Secret Fresh, The Working Animals Art Projects, and Vinyl on Vinyl.

There will be three areas in the art fair venues in the Montebello Villa hotel, including the Cebu Design Week pop up area. There will also be a sneak peek of the soon to open Museum of Contemporary Art in the hotel’s glass house. The Montebello Villa hotel is located at Governor M. Cuenco Ave., Apas, Cebu City.

“Art never thrives in a vacuum. It should be an exchange of ideas, techniques, concepts. By bringing artists from the NCR here, that should make for a very [fruitful] exchange for the future,” furniture designer and Visayas Art Fair overall consultant Kenneth Cobonpue said on the participation of artists from Metro Manila.

“This show is very gallery-driven. The galleries themselves are selecting the artists they are going to present. Depending on the orientation of the gallery, the field of artists will be curated accordingly,” said Maria Luisa Booth, CDW overall event chairperson.

“We are hoping for quite a high level of art, as well as an opportunity for young emerging artists to expose their work and also to be exposed to other artists,” she added.

The fair’s feature exhibitions include “By No Means” which is a curated group exhibit of 10 Visayan women artists and artworks that depict how art connects women across different sectors, cultures, and regions. Affiliate events include workshops and talks facilitated by the UP-Cebu Fine Arts faculty and participating exhibitors.

There will also be a special display by The Chocolate Chamber and fashion shows featuring Miss Cebu 2022 candidates and students at Fashion Institute of Design and Arts Cebu (FIDA).

Other activities include on the spot painting contests, a nude art class, a life-size sculpture installation, and crochet and retaso (scrap cloth) bombing installation on trees.

All guests, exhibitors and staff must be vaccinated. Non-vaccinated individuals will have to undergo a COVID-19 antigen test on site (priced at P380) and must receive a negative result. Pre-registration of guests online is encouraged. Hygiene stations will also be in place. Guest capacity will be based on regulations of the IATF that will be implemented for the duration the event.

To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/VAF2021. for more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/cebudesignweek. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman