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Source flowers for the dearly departed at Farmers Garden

FOR those planning to visit the cemetery before and after All Souls Day — the government has ordered memorial parks and columbariums nationwide will be closed on Nov. 1 as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) — the Farmers Garden in Araneta City is a convenient option for buying fresh arranged flowers for one’s dearly departed. Farmers Garden lessees offer the following suggestions on the best flowers to bring. For Bong’s Bloom and Balloons, lilies symbolize the soul of the departed and the hope offered by the healing process. Store owner Ferdinand Batol recommends white and/or pink lilies for faith and spirituality. Lilies, it may be noted, are mentioned 15 times in the Bible. A bouquet of lilies costs P1,200. (Contact Mr. Batol at 623-3875 and 0915-960-4324.) The Ester Flowers and El Dorado Farm suggest Japanese Spray Mums because, universally, it symbolizes sympathy. It is a symbol of life and rebirth in Asia, while it symbolizes longevity and optimism in the US. El Dorado Farms has a variety of colors to choose from: money white, money yellow, deco pink, deco purple, deco yellow, and deco red at P350 for 12 stems. (For more information on Japanese Spray Mums, contact Riza Pinpinio at 0917-839-5332.) Mignorette Flower Shop and Rina’s suggests tail flowers or anthuriums. A red anthurium conveys love and passion. A white one means innocence and purity. Pink reflects compassion and motherly love. A stand of anthuriums can range in price from P3,000 to P6,000. (Contact Mignorette Flower Shop at 0915-672-5327 or 0916-776-4774. Rina’s can be reached at 0949-822-9178). Long-lasting flowers, orchids speak an everlasting love and compassion for the deceased. Giving orchids to someone also expresses sympathy for those left behind by the departed. Graceliana’s Plants and Garden recommends any color of orchids, priced at P200 per bunch. (Contact them at 0919-976-4171.) Often used for wreaths due to their bright colors, carnations are said to resemble Blessed Virgin Mary’s tears. Pokwang’s Flower Shop can craft carnations for different flower arrangements. (Pokwang’s Flower Shop, 0906-288-2984.) A universal symbol of love, the rose is a beautiful present not only for the living but also for the departed. Speaking Roses recommends giving red roses to the dead to show love and grief. Like lilies, white roses mean innocence and purity. Consider giving yellow roses to a departed friend as this symbolizes warmth, friendship, and belongingness. They do not suggest light pink roses for the dead, but they can give a specific dark shade if pink for your special departed. (Speaking Roses, 0956-522-5777.) Visit Farmers Garden along General MacArthur Ave. in Araneta City to check out the options, or join the Farmers Market & Garden PH Viber community and communicate with any store online.

AirAsia starts Manila-Zamboanga flights to help boost connectivity

PHILIPPINES AirAsia, Inc. has started operating flights from Manila to Zamboanga as part of its strategy to gradually boost its domestic connectivity amid the pandemic crisis, the low-cost airline announced on Wednesday.

The carrier said it had its first flight to Zamboanga from Manila on Oct. 27.

Philippines AirAsia Chief Executive Officer Ricardo “Ricky” P. Isla said, “As the second largest city in Mindanao and the sixth most populous in the Philippines, this new destination will pave the way for expansive connectivity, bringing Filipino families closer together, and providing more opportunities across provinces in support of the local government’s vision to be the Asean economic hub in Southwestern Mindanao.”

Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar expects AirAsia’s presence in her city to “spark hope and bring in more reasonable and budget-friendly options in air travel that will help businesses recover from all the impacts brought by the pandemic.”

AirAsia said further it is offering all-in promotional fares from Manila to Zamboanga “from as low as P765” for ticket bookings from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 2020, for travels until June 30 next year. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Yields on term deposits climb ahead of US vote

YIELDS ON term deposits offered by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rose on Wednesday ahead of the US elections where investors expect the Democrats to win the presidency.

Demand for the BSP’s term deposit facility (TDF) stood at P552.97 billion on Wednesday, surpassing the P490-billion offering as well as the P518.88 billion in tenders seen last week.

Broken down, tenders for the one-week papers totaled P227.445 billion, above the P220 billion on the auction block as well as the P225.955 billion in bids  logged a week ago.

Banks asked for yields ranging from 1.83% to 2.05%, barely moving from the 1.835% to 2% range seen during the Oct. 21 offering. This caused the average rate of the seven-day deposits to settle at 1.9373%, higher by 5.6 basis points (bps) from the 1.8813% logged last week.

Meanwhile, the 14-day term deposits attracted bids worth P325.525 billion, higher than the P270-billion offering as well as the P292.925 billion in tenders seen at last week’s auction.

The two-week papers fetched rates ranging from 1.85% to 2.1975%, a narrower margin compared with the 1.835% to 2.24% band last week. This caused the average rate for the tenor to settle at 2.0337%, climbing by 12.86 bps from the 1.9051% seen a week ago.

For the third week in a row, the BSP did not offer 28-day term deposits. This follows the start of the central bank’s weekly auction of its own bills with the same tenor.

The TDF and the BSP’s securities are among the central bank’s main tools to gather excess liquidity in the financial system and to better guide market interest rates.

“[The] TDF auction results show that financial liquidity remains ample ahead of the All Souls’ Day holiday. Moving forward, the BSP’s monetary operations will continue to be conducted based on its assessment of market developments and liquidity conditions,” BSP Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila, Jr. said in a statement.

The higher TDF yields came as markets factored in the possible victory of Joseph R. Biden in the US presidential election, said Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort, which could push up local rates.

“[A] possible victory by Democrats could entail more stimulus, government spending, budget deficits, and borrowings by the US government and more supply of bonds that lead to higher bond yields and lower bond prices,” Mr. Ricafort said in a text message.

The US presidential election is set on Nov. 3, with more than 70 million Americans that have already cast ballots as of Tuesday based on the US Elections Project, Reuters reported.

Mr. Biden has enjoyed a consistent lead over President Donald Trump, investors have been cautiously betting on his victory and possibly a “blue wave” outcome, where Democrats take back the Senate as well.

Still, the presidential race is closer in battleground states that could determine the outcome, leaving many investors on edge.

Aside from the US presidential race, yields likewise went up on window-dressing, Mr. Ricafort said.

“Peso funding rates also tend to go up as the accounting year-end draws closer, about a little over two months to go,” he said. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

Consumer companies pitch discounts, bargain products as economic malaise looms

UNILEVER, Procter & Gamble and other major consumer goods manufacturers are touting lower-priced brands, smaller packages and discounts to woo penny-pinching shoppers struggling through the most severe global recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Nestlé told Reuters earlier this month that it has recently launched single-use sachets of Maggi seasonings in Indonesia and smaller sachets and cooking sauces in the Philippines. The world’s biggest packaged food company is working on “enhancing the meatiness of its bouillon” for when meat itself becomes a luxury, Nestlé head of culinary products Agnes Lalanne said.

It also is promoting recipes that call for cheaper proteins like eggs and canned meat in the Philippines.

“We’ll give this (affordable products) more emphasis,” Nestle CEO Mark Schneider  said  last week after reporting third-quarter sales, “because affordability, especially when it comes to the economic consequences of COVID, will become ever more important.”

Unilever, which markets food and consumer products in 190 countries, said it is making sure every market has low unit-price packages and cheaper brands.

On a conference call with reporters last week, Chief Financial Officer Graeme Pitkethly said the maker of Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Lipton tea launched new variants of its Savital shampoo, which is priced below its Dove and Tresemme brands, in Latin America.

Consumer product companies usually pass along price and “promotional allowances” to a retailer, which then uses it to offer limited-time promotions such as two for $5 value deals, or everyday low prices.

Many companies initially pulled back on price-focused promotions, such as ‘buy one, get one free,’ in March and April when coronavirus-related shutdowns drove shoppers to hoard everything from hand sanitizer and cleaners to toilet paper and flour.

The demand spike strained supply chains and all parties just focused on keeping stores clean and shelves stocked.

PRICE PROMOTIONS
Chef Boyardee pasta maker ConAgra told Reuters it has increased price promotions, though not to pre-COVID levels, since early spring on products such as Pam cooking sprays, Bird Eye frozen vegetables and Marie Callender pies.

PepsiCo said it would spend more on brand advertising and marketing during the US holiday season.

Unilever said on an earnings call it had reactivated promotion plans with retailers after effectively suspending them during the first and second quarters.

Tide detergent maker Procter & Gamble brought back promotions in most categories in the United States, except where demand remains high, like for its Charmin toilet paper and Microban 24 disinfectants.

As COVID-related costs rose, companies including P&G  managed to raise  prices  as stimulus in countries such as the United States (US) kept cash registers ringing. But a $600 weekly US federal aid program ended in July and prospects for any follow-up government stimulus look bleak.

“Consumer spending levels are not going to recover until at least end-2022, so there is going to be a sustained pressure on consumer-packaged goods companies to offer promotions and incentives,” said Oliver Wright, Accenture’s global industry lead of consumer goods and services.

By the end of September, about 26%  of  US grocery items purchased featured a price promotion, according to Nielsen data, below the 31% average in the one year to Feb. 29, 2020.

The global economy has weakened with millions out of work.

In the United States, one of the biggest markets for packaged goods,  personal income levels dropped 2.7% in August, according to the Commerce Department. Consumer  spending  rose only 1% in August after rising 1.5% in July, and consumption remains 4% below pre-pandemic levels.

Per-capita purchasing power in Europe is expected to fall almost 5.3% in 2020 from last year, according to data analytics firm Gfk.

According to a survey by consumer insights firm Reach3, 30% of US respondents reported buying more  in-house, store-brand products in June compared to March,  and 28% were looking for less-expensive brands overall. — Reuters

Business, government transactions to boost digital payments

BUSINESS and government transactions will continue to boost the growth of digital payments in the Philippines moving forward, with the central bank working to develop electronic schemes to aid consumers in their shift online.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said in a forum yesterday that the central bank is working to develop and improve electronic fund transfer and QR payment schemes.

Mr. Diokno said they are developing a person-to-merchant QR payment scheme apart from the person-to-person QR transactions that are now available. 

“This initiative is expected to benefit not only large business organizations but also the small unbanked vendors such as peddlers, sari-sari store owners, and entrepreneurs,” he said.

Mr. Diokno added that they are building an interoperable bills payment facility that will streamline the fragmented mechanisms currently in place.

“With the facility, billers will be capable of collecting from the customers even if the payment service providers of the billers are different from those of the customers,” he said.

The central bank chief said the framework includes a request to pay service, which will give both payers and payee the options of paying in full, paying in part, making a counteroffer for extension, or to fully decline a payment.

He added that the BSP is also crafting a mechanism for a direct debit use case, which allows a payer to give a payee authority to draw funds from the payer on a regular basis.

“This payment use case is ideal for recurring payments such as monthly rentals, periodic loan amortizations, and quarterly insurance premiums,” Mr. Diokno said.

For electronic fund transfer schemes (EFS), the central bank chief said they are pushing to allow multiple batches of crediting for PESONet, even beyond banking days. Currently, the EFS allows batch transfers that can be credited at the end of a banking day. 

Mr. Diokno said the PESONet has served as a backbone for the EGov Pay facility where 280 national government agencies and local government units are able to receive payments.

Some P1.124 trillion or 86% of the P1.305 trillion worth of taxes paid to the Bureau of Internal Revenue from January to August were done via e-payments, Finance Undersecretary Antonette C. Tionko said in the same forum.

She said P2.6 billion of the payments were done through other channels such as bank and e-wallet transactions, reflecting how Filipinos chose to go online to fulfil their tax obligations.

Meanwhile, Better than Cash Alliance Managing Director Ruth Goodwin-Groen said only 12% of private sector salaries are being paid directly to bank accounts, meaning a majority of employees still receive their pay through cash or cheque.

She said less than 2% of supplier payments are made digitally by formal businesses, adding informal businesses, which make up 85% of all supplier payments, still rely on cash.

“There is a wonderful opportunity in the Philippines for digitization of business payments,” Ms. Goodwin-Groen said.

The BSP wants 50% of payments done digitally by 2023. Mr. Diokno is bullish that their target could be achieved by end-2022 as the coronavirus pandemic caused a surge in online transactions.

In 2018, e-payments made up 10% of the total transaction volume, moving up from the 1% in 2013, based on a Better than Cash Alliance report. By value, online transactions made up 20% of the total from just 8% in 2013. — L.W.T. Noble

Visit the land of Don Papa Rum

DON PAPA Rum is serving up the perfect post-pandemic treat with its newest online promo: #ExperienceSugarlandia. Three winners will get to go on a five-day eco-cultural experience for two in Don Papa’s home, Sugarlandia — better known as Negros Occidental.

“Negros Island is an island worth discovering, escaping to. Diving into local food culture and immersing oneself in the flora and fauna, we felt would be a great way to reenergize once this pandemic ends. And that’s why we were inspired to put this contest together,” Monica Llamas-Garcia, Head of Brand and Communications said.

Winners of the online contest will enjoy a five-day trip for two to Negros Occidental worth P80,000 once travel restrictions lift — expected by the brand to be around June to December of 2021. They will be treated to a guided tour of the Hawaiian Mill, ride a train through the sugarcane fields, visit ancestral homes like Hacienda Rosalia, and relax at Punta Bulata and Danjugan Island to name a few activities. Along the way, they also get to indulge in some of the most delicious dishes that the island has to offer, of course rum on the side.

To join the contest, one has to post a creative photo on one’s Instagram feed with a bottle of Don Papa Rum, Don Papa 10-year and include the hashtags #ExperienceSugarlandia and #DonPapaRum. The posts that best capture the Sugarlandia feel, will be chosen and the monthly winners will be announced on Nov. 15, Dec. 21, and Jan. 8, 2021. For more information about the online contest and to know more about Don Papa Rum, visit www.donpaparum.com/experience-sugarlandia and follow the brand on social media @donpaparum.

Lenovo announces new laptops, phones

TECHNOLOGY COMPANY Lenovo has announced a slew of new products, including the introduction of the fifth generation entries for its convertible laptop line, Yoga, a gaming phone, and new phones from Motorola.

“Lenovo aims to deliver our vision, Smarter Technology for All, through designs that perfectly meet consumer needs. Premium Lenovo Yoga devices are engineered to be among the thinnest and trimmest on the market, combining ultra-portability with convenience and style,” Michael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager, said in a statement.

During the media event on Oct. 20, Lenovo announced they are planning to make 16GB RAM the minimum for all laptops.

The new Yoga line, meant to provide “a smarter style statement,” is led by its flagship product, the Yoga Slim 9i notebook and the Yoga 9i convertible, both priced at P99,995 and are powered by the up to the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i9 HK-Series mobile processors and graphics based on the Intel Xe architecture.

The 14-inch Yoga Slim 9i laptop has a thinness of 13.9 mm and weighs 1.26 kilograms, features an “authentic European” black leather cover bonded with “an aerospace-grade aluminum chassis” for durability. The same leather cover comes optional on the Yoga 9i, a 14-inch convertible.

The Yoga 9 series also has water-resistant, edge-to-edge Glass Palm Rest, a fingerprint-resistant Smart Sensor Touchpad utilizing haptic technology to “recreate the familiar feeling of a real click,” and a Smart Sense Keyboard that auto-adjusts the backlighting based on ambient light conditions.

The Yoga 7 series, meanwhile, includes the Yoga Slim 7i Pro (price starts at P64,995), the Yoga Slim 7i Carbon (price starts at P59,995), the Yoga Slim 7i (no price announced), and the Yoga 7i (price starts at P59,995).

The Yoga Slim 7i Pro is a 14-incher that comes with up to Intel Core i7-1165G7 and an NVIDIA GeFore MX450 GPU meant to provide “a remarkable increase in speed and balanced performance.” It also has a 2.8K resolution display with 100% sRGB life-like color and clarity at up to 400 nits brightness and a 90Hz refresh rate designed to decrease time lags while gaming or streaming content. The Yoga Slim 7i Pro is ideal for responsive multi-tasking, video editing, and more.

The Yoga Slim 7i Carbon’s selling point is its less than 1 kg weight (966 grams) and it also comes with “aero-grade strength carbon fibers.” The product is targeted towards “always-on-the-go business leaders, entrepreneurs, and millennials” with its 15-hour battery life and up to Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 1TB SSD paired with a QHD 16:10 panel.

The Yoga Slim 7i is a 13.9-mm all-metal machine-cut laptop with a clamshell design and is likewise equipped with the latest processors. While pricing has yet to be announced, Lenovo noted it will “likely have the most aggressive price tag for a premium laptop.”

The final product of the 7 line is the Yoga 7i, an ultra-thin convertible with a battery that can last for up to 16 hours and comes in either a 14-inch or 15.6-inch touchscreen display.

YOGA, IDEAPAD
Meanwhile, the mid-ranged Yoga 6 line (prices start at P49,995) can include up to an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Mobile Processor with built-in AMD Radeon graphics and up to 1TB of SSD inside a 13-inch chassis and a battery that can last up to 18 hours.

The IdeaPads, considered the most affordable of the Yoga lines, includes the IdeaPad Slim 5i (price starts at P42,995), the IdeaPad Flex 5i (price starts at P49,995), and the IdeaPad Slim 3i (price starts at P44,995).

The IdeaPad Slim 5i includes a charging port using Type-C connection and front-facing speakers. The IdeaPad Flex 5i features a 360-degree hinge for flexibility and comes with the Lenovo Digital Pen. The IdeaPad Slim 3i, meanwhile, comes with Intel Core i7 or core i3 (P29,995)

All the devices in the launch except for the IdeaPad Slim 3i with Intel Core i3 come pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 (worth P6,995) and upgraded to Lenovo’s 3-Year Premium Care Warranty (worth P9,100).

Customers buying select devices under the Yoga 9, 7, and 6 lines will receive Lenovo x Herschel Stowaway Jacket (P10,995), a Gibson Travel Bag (P7,495), a Spokane Sleeve (P3,495), and other Lenovo accessories for free. Those purchasing select devices from the IdeaPad 5 and 3 series or select IdeaCentre desktops and AIOs will also receive the Stowaway Jacket plus other accessories, amounting to up to PHP 43,365. Meanwhile, certain models of the IdeaPad 3 series come with the Stowaway Jacket and the Fifteen Hip Pack (P2,495) among other freebies, and the Smart Tab M8 and M10 FHD also come with the Fifteen Hip Pack.

LEGION, MOTOROLA PHONES
Due to the popularity of mobile gaming, Lenovo Philippines also brought to the country the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel (P39,995), a gaming phone featuring the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus Mobile Platform plus 5G support in select markets. The phones also include 5th gen memory chips up to 16GB LPDDR5 high capacity ramp and storage of up to 512GB.

The phone includes two 2,500 mAh batteries, located on the sides of the phone and a dual Type-C charging bundled with a 65W charger that can charge from 0% to 100% in 34 minutes.

It also has two shoulder controls, dual front-facing speakers, and a dual live streaming feature. Cameras are at 64MP and 16MP on the rear and a 20MP front-facing camera. The cameras can record videos of up to 4K and at 30FPS (rear camera).

Meanwhile, Motorola is coming back to the Philippine market with two new 5G phones, the Motorola Razr 5G and Moto G 5G Plus.

“Lenovo and Motorola both recognize the need to constantly innovate in this industry. The iconic clamshell design of the original Razr was way ahead of its time and made motorola not only one of the biggest tech brands globally but also a pop culture icon,” Mr. Ngan said in a statement.

The new Razr includes the iconic clamshell design of the Razr line, with a hinge that leaves no space in between when folded closed and designed to last up to 200,000 flips. When flipped, the phone has a 2.7-inch Quick View display that can use the camera, call contacts, and run eight pre-selected apps. Unfolded, the phone has a 6.2-inch Flex View display, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a Cinema Vision technology that brings in 21:9 resolution quality, a 48MP camera with Quad Pixel technology, and contains Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor.

The Moto g 5G Plus (P16,990) is touted by Lenovo as the “most affordable 5G-enabled phone in the Philippines” and comes with a 6.7-inch display and a Snapdragon 765 processor. The front-facing camera features an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 16MP Quad Pixel camera while the rear camera includes four cameras led by a 48MP Quad Pixel camera. — Zsarlene B. Chua

ABS-CBN launches stay-home movies, inks new partnerships

ABS-CBN Corp. has partnered with streaming platform iWantTFC, digital site KTX.ph, and cable companies SKYcable and Cignal to stream its newly produced movies.

“Even if the pandemic has been challenging, it has pushed us to think out of the box. And with the theaters still closed, we thought of ways to reach our audience in different ways,” ABS-CBN Films Managing Director Olivia M. Lamasan said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday.

Viewers will have access to a new ABS-CBN film for 48 hours for P150.

“Viewers now have strong and powerful choices on where to consume content,” Ms. Lamasan noted.

ABS-CBN said its first offering is a horror film which will be released on Oct. 30.

The film “U-Turn” will have its celebrity digital premiere on KTX.ph on Oct. 29, it added.

Ms. Lamasan is also hoping that cinemas will be allowed to reopen soon.

“It’s just that for now, we are in this circumstance and we also need to find ways to connect and still be of service to our audience. But we are praying and are in full support for the reopening of cinemas,” she said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Dining In/Out (10/29/20)

Chef Jessie accepts events and catering

CHEF Jessie’s Place and Chef Jessie Rockwell Club now accept reservations for events for 12 to 100 people from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. They also do catering for big and small groups with customized menus to suit the needs of every patron. Located at 1997 Pililla St. corner Obrero and Tanay St., Makati City, Chef Jessie’s Place offers numerous options for small and big groups. Its Mezzanine A can accommodate 30 guests while Mezzanine B can hold a smaller group of 12 persons. The Events Hall can seat 60 while the rooftop overlooking the Makati skyline offers enough space for 100 guests. These numbers follow the guidelines set by the government. Meanwhile, Chef Jessie Rockwell Club accepts dine-in reservations for 25 persons at a time. It serves lunch, merienda, and dinner. For reservations, inquiries, and to place take out and delivery orders, call 0917-833-0797, 0917-896-7880, 0917-858-5466; e-mail chefjessiesplace@chefjessie.com or rockwell.club@chefjessie.com. For reservations at Chef Jessie Rockwell Club, call 8890-6543, 8890-7630 and 0917-858-5466. To see Chef Jessie’s menu offerings, visit www.chefjessie.com.   

Celebrations with The Plaza

FOR 55 years, The Plaza has been part of people’s milestones and it is still here to help people celebrate special occasions with loved ones, whether together or apart. The Plaza’s Party Packs with themed menus are suited for any occasion. These include The Plaza Classics, the USDA Angus Roast, the Rib-Eye Dinner, Spanish Favorites, The Plaza Hamwich Kits, The Plaza Burger Kits and more. Orders should be placed at least three days in advance. For orders and inquiries, call 7729-0001 to 03 or 0917-718-2200.

Napa de Oro launches wine in the Philippines

THIS year, Philippine global wine brand Napa de Oro launches its luxury line that includes Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet and its exclusive Caroline Red Blend — a hearty and spicy Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc — and the rare Au79 Estate Reserve whose name comes from the chemical element symbol and atomic number for gold. These wines are produced in the Coombsville region of the Napa Valley in California. Napa de Oro is a partnership between award-winning winemaker Rudy Zuidema, and a group of Davaoeño wine aficionados: Butchoy and Bing Taojo, Andreas Taojo, and US-based attorney Abe Marapao. Butchoy Taojo says their target market is not just the Philippine wine segment but also a global audience that is starting to appreciate wines that are suited to varied tastes. As such, Napa de Oro will be available in the US, along with an online store in the Philippines and through Bloom Café + Bar at the Greenbelt Mall. Order Napa de Oro’s fine wines at www.napadeoro.com.

Resorts World Manila offers stress-busting desserts

WITH 86% of adult Filipinos stressed because of the pandemic, according to a Social Weather Stations survey, and scientific studies saying that desserts can help alleviate stress, Resorts World Manila (RWM) would like to highlight the plethora of world-class desserts, from Filipino to Korean to Mediterranean, which are available in its restaurant outlets and hotels. Guests can enjoy the wide range of selections, from Marriott Manila’s Marriott Cafe Berliner and Halloween Cake; Sheraton Manila’s Mango Bingsu and Songpyeon (rice cake) from Oori, Ube Macapuno Cake, and Mango Sansrival; Savoy Manila’s Paris-Brest and Baklava Cheesecake; RWM’s Garden Wing Cafe’s Mango Yogurt Cheesecake, Black Forest Cake, and Macadamia Mousse Cake; and RWM’s Casa Buenas’s Emperador Strudel and Tablea Fondant Cake. To know more about RWM offers, visit rwmanila.com or download the RWM Mobile App for free on the AppStore or GooglePlay.

Jamba Juice offers new ready-to-blend and frozen fruit kits

JAMBA Juice introduces its new products: the Live Fruitfully Kits and Superfood Smoothie Tubs. The Live Fruitfully Kits contain fresh frozen fruits vacuum packed into various bundles, depending on the customer’s need or preference. Want different flavors per day? The Daily Mix (P300) contains five packs of 100gm fruit mixes: two packs of strawberry and banana, blueberry and banana, peach and banana, and mango. The kits are also available in 500g Big Packs for those looking to experiment with different flavors or want to stick with their favorites. Starting at P299, The Big Packs come in four different fruit combinations: blueberry and banana, strawberry and banana, five fruit mix (with blueberry, mango, peach, banana, and strawberries), and the kale and mango mix.  Meanwhile, the Superfood Smoothie Tubs are creamy frozen versions of Jamba Juice’s all-time favorites. For P225, choose among four different flavors: Creamy Strawberries Wild, Banana Berry Blush, Mango-a-go-go Whirl’d, and PB is a Moo’d. Jamba has also launched new flavors: The BGV — Berry Good Vibes, PB But Better, and Tropical Dreamin’. These are only out for a limited time. The Live Fruitfully Kits and Smoothie Tubs are now available in all Jamba Juice stores, and can be ordered for dine-in/ take-out and via delivery through https://delivery.jambajuice.ph, Grabfood, and foodpanda. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/jambajuiceph/.

Max’s Group crossover deal

FOR the last quarter of the year, the Max’s Group continues to offer bang-for-the-buck promos across its brands. First there is the Ultimate Chicken Crossover from Max’s Restaurant, Pancake House, and Yellow Cab which focuses on fried chicken. For a minimum of P1,399, the bundle includes three pieces of Max’s Sarap-To-The-Bones Chicken Leg Quarter, six pieces of Pancake House’s Classic Pan Chicken, and 10 pieces of Yellow Cab’s Chicken Wings (choose up to two flavors from Sriracha, Garlic Parmesan, Sweet Soy, and Hot Chix). It comes with a free box of six Original Glazed Doughnuts from Krispy Kreme which can be claimed by presenting the Ultimate Chicken Crossover receipt in select Krispy Kreme stores until Nov. 30, and on Dec. 1 to 31, a free condiment set from NutriAsia featuring a combination of banana ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. The Ultimate Chicken Crossover is available via delivery, take-out, and Curbside Pick-Up from EDSA Eats, Burgos Circle (Max’s Forbestown), Hampton Gardens, and Harbor Square starting Oct. 30, and from SM City Sucat, Waltermart Makati (Yellow Cab Avida), Market! Market!, SM City Bicutan (Yellow Cab Bicutan), and SM City San Lazaro (Yellow Cab San Lazaro) starting Nov. 6. Fried chicken and doughnuts in one bundle? Pancake House teams up with Krispy Kreme to bring a Classic Meets Original experience. Buy a box of five pieces of Pancake House’s Classic Pan Chicken for P499 and get a voucher for a free Krispy Kreme box of six pieces Original Glazed Doughnuts. Dencio’s, together with Max’s, offers the best of both worlds with its Sisig Party Promo: Max’s Chicken Sisig and Dencio’s Krispy Sisig for a sulit price starting at P488. Teriyaki Boy introduces its new bundle in tandem with Krispy Kreme: the newest Original Best Sellers Bundle. Available until Nov. 10, each order of Teriyaki Boy Chicken and Tonkatsu with four servings of Gohan will come with a Krispy Kreme box of 6 Original Glazed Doughnuts for P699. Finally, Sizzlin’ Steak introduces the Perfect Combo Promo with Teriyaki Boy for P299 which features classic Sizzlin’ Beef Strips and Teriyaki Chicken Rice.

7-Eleven Chef Creations launches Rico’s Lechon

CONVENIENCE store chain 7-Eleven has partnered with Rico’s Lechon to offer Filipinos comfort food served with convenience. Through the 7-Eleven Chef Creations line, customers can now enjoy Rico’s Lechon Paksiw (P99) and Lechon Dinuguan (P95) anytime. Both come with white rice. Customers can avail of the two meals in select 7-Eleven stores in Metro Manila stores and soon in stores at the Pampanga and Batangas areas.

Marks & Spencer is now in MetroMart

Award-winning food and wine from Britain’s leading multinational retailer are now available in the Filipino online grocery MetroMart. Marks & Spencer (M&S) is adding MetroMart to its growing list of online channels. Order through the MetroMart website or the mobile app to receive a contactless delivery in two hours. Simply register a free account and purchase a minimum order of P1,000. Even a customer abroad with an active MetroMart account can order for their family and friends in the Philippines as long as the recipient is within MetroMart’s allowable delivery area which is a distance radius of 7 km per store. With the partnership that launched on Oct. 19, one can order from the following M&S branches: Alabang Town Center, BGC Central Square, SM North Edsa, Eastwood, SM Megamall, Rockwell Powerplant, Glorietta 4 and Robinsons Place. Prices in the app are updated live. If an item you ordered has sold out during transit, MetroMart’s Personal Shopper will contact you to make replacement suggestions that you may approve or reject. To get the latest updates, follow Marks and Spencer at facebook.com/MarksandSpencerPH and Instagram @marksandspencerph

Apple plans smaller AirPods Pro, revamped entry-level model

APPLE, Inc. is planning updates to its AirPods earbuds next year, seeking to capitalize on the success of a product that has become an important source of growth.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is working on two new models: third-generation entry-level AirPods and the second version of the AirPods Pro earbuds, according to people familiar with the plans.

The models will join other new Apple audio devices like the HomePod mini and upcoming over-ear headphones. The company has also weighed launching another smart speaker that would sit between the HomePod mini and the original version in the line up.

The design of the updated entry-level AirPods will be similar to the current AirPods Pro, gaining a shorter stem and replaceable ear tips. Apple is also looking to improve battery life. That model however will not have higher-end AirPods Pro features like noise-cancellation, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

For the new AirPods Pro, Apple is aiming to make the earbuds more compact by eliminating the short stem that currently sticks out from the bottom. A design in testing has a more rounded shape that fills more of a user’s a ear — similar to the latest designs from Samsung Electronics Co., Amazon.com, Inc. and Google.

Integrating noise-cancellation, wireless antennas and microphones into a smaller AirPods Pro casing has proved challenging during development, which could result in a less ambitious design when the product is finalized, the people said. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.

Apple has internally discussed launching the new low-end AirPods during the first half of next year. The company is also planning new wireless chips to power both models. Luxshare Precision Industry Co. and Goertek, Inc. are expected to handle most of the production for the new earbuds.

Goertek, which derives roughly 40% of its revenue from Apple, jumped 2.5% to a record in Shenzhen trading Tuesday. Luxshare inched up 0.2%, after having more than doubled this year.

AIRPODS LEAD TAPERING
After being mocked by some early on, AirPods have become one of Apple’s biggest hits in recent years. The company’s Wearables, Home and Accessories division, which includes AirPods, reported $6.5 billion in revenue in the latest quarter, up more than 70% from two years ago. The earbuds may get a new sales boost soon because Apple stopped including headphones with new iPhones.

The success has attracted rivals such as China’s Xiaomi Corp. that offer more affordable options.

Apple currently sells entry-level AirPods for $159 and the AirPods Pro at $249. The original AirPods launched in 2016 and were last updated in March 2019. The AirPods Pro came out in October last year.

Beyond the new AirPods, Apple has also internally weighed a new HomePod that sits in size, price and sound quality between the original $299 HomePod and the $99 HomePod mini. It’s unclear if Apple will ultimately launch that product or just further cut the price of the higher-end version.

Apple is still planning to announce high-end, noise-canceling over-ear headphones. The device has faced several development challenges over the past two years and has been delayed multiple times.

The headphones were due to go into production weeks ago, but that was pushed back due to problems with the headband, a person familiar with the matter said. That part was deemed too tight in some testing.

The company initially wanted to include large touch pads on the sides of the headphones, but reduced the size of those panels. Apple has also scaled back some of the interchangeable functionality of the headphones that were a hallmark of the initial concept. The latest version of the product is likely to lack a replaceable headband, but could still include interchangeable ear pads. — Bloomberg

Nickel Asia unit halts operations after reported COVID-19 cases

A SUBSIDIARY of mining firm Nickel Asia Corp. has temporarily stopped its operations after several of its employees have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a stock exchange disclosure on Wednesday, Nickel Asia said its Hinatuan Mining Corp. (HMC) suspended activities in its mine site in Surigao del Norte on Oct. 27 up to Nov. 10 to mitigate the spread of the virus among its employees and nearby communities.

So far, the company said that 19 employees had tested positive for COVID-19 after it conducted testing in its mine site.

HMC said it will continue to perform mass testing to its employees in the site, while additional isolation and quarantine facilities have been on standby.

“Infected employees will be managed and treated in accordance with the Department of Health (DoH) and mine site health and safety protocols. Contact tracing continues to be done in coordination with government authorities,” the disclosure said.

Further, HMC said it continues to distribute food and other basic necessities to its employees, while implementing measures such as regular disinfection and physical distancing.

The mining company said it will continue to enforce the necessary measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, together with the assistance of local government units (LGUs).

Meanwhile, Nickel Asia projected that the suspension of operations of its subsidiary will not be significant since HMC is at the end of its mining season and the last of its ore shipments have already been loaded, while the remaining have been diverted to its other subsidiaries, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. and Cagdianao Mining Corp.

“In 2019, HMC accounted for 11% of the Nickel Asia Corp. Group’s total ore sales volume,” the disclosure said.

On Wednesday, shares in Nickel Asia at the stock exchange rose 1.06% or P0.04 to close at P3.81 per piece. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

AMLA amendments may ‘over-regulate’ property sector

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) that will prevent the Philippines from being grey listed, as proposed in the Senate, may “over-regulate” the real estate industry, stakeholders said.

Senate Bill No. 1412, which will amend Republic Act No. 9160, proposes to include real estate developers and brokers among covered persons, and single cash transactions amounting to more than P1 million among the covered transactions that must be reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

“We register our objection to the proposed amendments to the AMLA, particularly within the context of the growing housing backlog, existing constraints to production, which refutes the necessity to regulate some more an already overly-regulated sector,” Christopher Ryan T. Tan of the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines, Inc. (OSHDP) said in an online hearing on Wednesday.

Mr. Tan spoke before the Senate Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, tackling measures strengthening the AMLA in compliance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The FATF had earlier given the government one year until this month to address gaps in its AML laws and anti-terrorism measures. However, this was extended until February due to the pandemic.

Mr. Tan argued that FATF Recommendation 22 specifies real estate agents, rather than developers and brokers. He added the P1-million threshold is also not provided by the FATF and was lower than the P3 million they had proposed.

“OSHDP specifically requested to exclude low-cost economic housing and socialized housing from covered persons and transactions — that would mean price points above P3 million. The P1-million transaction is not something we agreed to,” he said.

AMLC Executive Director Mel Georgie B. Racela said in the same hearing that the recommendation took into account discussions with social housing representatives.

“Because it will affect the social housing initiatives and project of the government, we were able to agree that the P1-million cash transaction will not be covered [and] more than P1 million will be covered…,” he said.

He added that inclusion of the real estate industry as covered persons was considered as they confirmed that the sector is being used to launder funds.

Senator Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, who chairs the panel, and Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon proposed the mandatory reporting of covered transactions be placed under the Registry of Deeds instead of developers and brokers. The senators also proposed to increase the threshold to P3 million.

The Professional Regulation Commission reported there are currently more than 11,000 real estate salespersons and about 31,000 brokers.

Mr. Drilon also said the government should amend the AMLA according to interest of the country versus simply complying with the recommendations of the FATF.

“Let us pass what we believe is reasonable. What we believe is consistent with our national interest and submit it to FATF and debate to them that this is compliant with regulations. These brokers agents, to me, it is unreasonable to require 41,000,” he said.

The bill also proposes allowing the AMLC to investigate suspicious transactions, upon its own determination; interview witnesses, conduct surveillance undercover investigations, and court-approved searches and seizures.

The council may also subpoena persons and documents relevant to the investigation as well as implement targeted financial sanctions, such as freezing assets either directly or indirectly owned by individuals identified by the United Nations Security Council. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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