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iWant releases horror movie anthology in time for Halloween

IT’S a few days before Halloween and in line with the spooky season, streaming service iWant is coming out with a horror movie anthology starring Jake Cuenca and Ivana Alawi as people who want to take the easy way out only the easy way out has dire consequences.

The anthology, titled Sitsit (the Filipino onomatopoeic expression for “pssst”), is set to hit the streaming service on Oct. 31 and will have two parts, Scorpio and Aswang, directed by Ato Bautista and Erin Pascual, respectively.

In Scorpio, Jake Cuenca plays an aging, lustful photographer who takes a potion that turns him into a young man in order to win the heart of the woman he is obsessed with. In Aswang, Ivana Alawi plays a money-hungry prostitute who wants to turn her life around and befriends a stray dog which may be more than what it seems.

“Actually, before I accepted the role, I told the management that I was scared of taking it because I have never been in a lead role before,” Ms. Alawi said in the vernacular during the media conference on Oct. 23 via Zoom.

Misgivings and fears aside, Ms. Alawi accepted  because she “always wanted to star in a horror [film].”

“I wanted to play a crazy character, a murderous one. In YouTube, I am myself, but when I entered this [shoot], when I started shooting for this, it was different,” she explained.

Ms. Alawi first rose to fame on YouTube doing vlogs and eventually became a model and actress.

The anthology was shot before COVID-19 quarantine measures were put in place so the cast and crew were able to shoot on location, which included a scene on a street in Poblacion, Makati which Ms. Alawi admitted unnerved her.

“There were so many people and it was hard to get into character,” she said.

Sitsit airs starting Oct. 31 on the iWant TFC app which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store or accessed via iwanttfc.com. — ZBC

Philex halts underground mining after reported coronavirus cases

PHILEX MINING Corp. temporarily suspended its underground operations on Oct. 23 and 24 to mitigate community transmission after several of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Monday, Philex Mining said that after conducting mass testing, it recorded 26 COVID-19 positive cases in its Pacdal mine site as of Oct. 23.

Most of the patients were working in underground operations.

According to the mining firm, some of the patients were quarantined in the medical and isolation facilities of its Pacdal mining site in Benguet while other employees were transferred to Baguio General Hospital.

Philex Mining said it had started to perform contract tracing procedures to determine employees and their family members who were in possible close contact with the COVID-19 patients.

The company added that it plans to finish the mass testing of its 1,000 personnel who may be exposed.

“Additional isolation and quarantine facilities are being readied for any eventualities,” Philex Mining said in the disclosure.

To prevent the spread of the virus, Philex Mining has implemented health measures in its mine site such as the wearing of face masks and face shields, social distancing and implementation of 24-hour curfew, disinfection activities, and strict inspection at its main gate.

Meanwhile, the mining company said it was too early to declare the potential impact of the event to its operations and financial results.

Philex Mining added that it planned to resume its mining operations by Sunday afternoon.

On Monday, shares in Philex Mining at the stock exchange rose 0.18% or P0.01 to close at P5.61 each. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Club Paradise is world’s 1st green private estate

CLUB PARADISE PALAWAN is the first “green” private estate to be included in Green Destinations’ list of top 100 sustainable destinations of 2020.

The annual global initiative organized by Green Destinations highlights sustainable tourism stories and good practices of destinations.

Club Paradise Palawan implements an EcoConserve project, which covers various sustainable practices in its operations. The company has sought to reduce plastic consumption and add an alternative supply of clean water to surrounding communities. It also promotes sustainable food sourcing, tapping Taranuman Farm for restaurant supplies.

The 700-meter beach falls also within a Biosphere Reserve of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a nesting site for Hawksbill and Green Sea turtles.

Discovery Hospitality Corp. manages Club Paradise Palawan, Discovery Shores Boracay, Discovery Suites in Ortigas, and Discovery Primea in Makati.

LANDBANK prices maiden sustainability bonds, closes offering on first day due to oversubscription

LAND BANK of the Philippines closed its maiden offering of sustainability bonds on the first day on strong demand from investors. — BW FILE PHOTO

LAND BANK of the Philippines (LANDBANK) closed its bond offering on its first day following strong demand from investors.

The state-lender said in a statement on Monday that the offer period for the bonds, which was supposed to run from Oct. 26 to Nov. 6, was cut short due to “very strong demand and oversubscription.”

LANDBANK priced its maiden issue of sustainability bonds at an interest rate of 2.5872% payable quarterly. The papers have a tenor of two years.

The lender earlier said it is looking to raise at least P3 billion from the offering. It had yet to disclose the total amount raised from the bonds as of press time on Monday.

Standard Chartered Bank served as the sole lead arranger and bookrunner for the transaction. It was also a selling agent together with LANDBANK.

The bank last week said the funds raised from the transaction will be used to finance its loan programs for green and social projects.

For green projects, included are those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, as well as pollution control, among others, the bank said.

Meanwhile, initiatives on basic infrastructure, food security, essential services, affordable housing, and employment generation, are considered social projects.

State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines in November 2019 likewise sold P18.125 billion worth of sustainability bonds. — LWTN

Short film tilt looking for stories of ‘resilience and strength’

LOCAL ketchup brand UFC is celebrating its 50th year through a short film competition meant to showcase the “resilience and strength [of Filipinos] in the face of tremendous challenges,” according to a press release.

Called the UFC Reel Life: Nagsasama-samang Sarap Short Film Competition, the tilt is open to all filmmakers in the Philippines. Each entry must have a maximum length of five minutes including the opening and closing credits.

Entries must also use “at least one UFC product as an organic part of the narrative,” in order to show “the integral role of UFC products in empowering Filipinos to create nagsasama-samang sarap (bringing together the delicious) moments every day,” said the release.

The UFC products that should be in the film include: UFC Tamis Anghang Banana Catsup, UFC Sweet Chili Sauce, UFC Tomato Sauce, UFC Gravy, UFC Hot and Spicy Banana Catsup, UFC Hot Sauce, UFC Spaghetti Sauce, UFC Ready Recipes, and UFC Fresh Selections.

All videos submitted should be recorded in a horizontal format and must be no less than 720 HD, though filming in 1080 HD is highly recommended. Entries shall be judged by a panel where the top 30 will be chosen based on the following criteria: Thematic Storytelling (40%), Creativity and Originality (40%), and Technical Execution (20%).

Deadline for submission of entries is on Nov. 30 with the top 30 finalists to be announced on Dec. 3, and winners to be named on Dec. 14.

The 30 finalists will automatically receive a gift pack from UFC and winners will take home the following: 1st Prize, P100,000; 2nd Prize, P50,000; 3rd Prize, P20,000; Best Actor, P5,000; Best Actress, P5,000; Best Cinematography, P5,000; Best Screenplay, P5,000; Best Editing, P5,000; Best Director, P15,000; and, People’s Choice Award, P15,000.

Those interested in joining the contest must send their entries through ufcreellife@gmail.com and must include the contestant’s name, title of the film, contact number, names of cast and crew, and a photo of the director. For larger files, use wetransfer.com to create a shareable link which can be included in the e-mail. — ZBC

Phoenix set to open FamilyMart convenience stores in Cebu

PHILIPPINE FamilyMart CVS, Inc. is set to launch three convenience stores in Cebu this week.

The retail company owned by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. will be opening compact stores in two fuel stations at V. Rama and Banilad and a stand-alone shop in Banawa on October 28.

“There has been a clamor from our loyal customers in Cebu,” FamilyMart General Manager Bernard C. Suiza was quoted as saying in a disclosure to the stock exchange, Monday.

“Made possible through our franchisees, we will innovatively showcase our blockbuster products to Cebuanos in the most convenient and safest format possible,” the official added.

The company said the compact store format is ideal for get-and-go transactions during this time of a pandemic. Motorists will be aided by station personnel so they don’t have to get out of their vehicles. 

“This is our way of providing our business partners another channel for added revenue while offering more value to customers as we bring our stores closer to more communities,” Mr. Suiza said.

As part of its safety initiatives, FamilyMart earlier introduced an online ordering and delivery system and the FamilyMart on Wheels concept, which goes around neighbors to offer basic goods.

Phoenix Petroleum acquired the franchise for the Japanese retail company in 2017.

Shares in Phoenix fell by 3.86% to close at P12.96 on Monday. — Adam J. Ang

RLC opens Sierra Valley Gardens showroom

ROBINSONS LAND Corp. (RLC) recently opened a showroom for its latest residential development, Sierra Valley Gardens.

Sierra Valley Gardens, located in Cainta, Rizal, is envisioned as a nature-inspired residential community with urban and suburban conveniences.

The residential development received the Asia Pacific Property Award for Best Mixed Use Development in 2020.

The new showroom is located at the 2nd level of Primark Town Center, Cainta, Rizal. To schedule an appointment, visit bit.ly/RLCUnitViewing.

GSIS launches P20-billion college loan scheme

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has rolled out a P20 billion study-now pay-later loan scheme for its members, it said in a statement on Monday.

The program’s maximum loanable amount per academic year is P100,000, which may cover tuition and other school fees. Interest rate is at 8%.

“We will allow GSIS members who have at least 15 years of government service to avail of an educational loan for their kins in college,” GSIS President and General Manager Rolando L. Macasaet said in a radio interview. The member should also be clear of any pending administrative or criminal case and have no past due loans with GSIS.

Mr. Macasaet said borrowers are not required to pay anything in the first five years of the 10-year loan program.

The state insurer said in a statement that eligible student beneficiaries are relatives or family of the GSIS member up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity.

Interested applicants should not be on leave of absence without pay if they plan to avail the program.

“They must also meet the required net take-home pay of P5,000 after deduction of their monthly premium contributions and loan amortizations, and their  agencies must not be on suspended status,” GSIS said.

The student who will benefit from the program should also be enrolled in a four- or five-year degree in a private or public educational institution.

“The loan has an insurance cover to protect the interest of the borrowers and their student-beneficiaries. Thus it will be deemed fully paid in case the member or the student dies or becomes permanently and totally disabled,” Mr. Macasaet said.

The GSIS in August launched a P30,000 loan program meant to finance laptop or desktop purchases amid the coronavirus pandemic that caused the need for distance learning. — LWTN

Calendar girl

AKLAN’s Miss Universe Philippines candidate may not have won the crown but some may argue that being named Ginebra San Miguel’s 2021 Calendar Girl is a very good consolation prize for Christelle Abello.

“This is more than just a dream come true for me,” Ms. Abello said during the calendar’s launch on Oct. 19 via Zoom.

“I’m so overwhelmed, thrilled and excited all at the same time. It’s a blessing from above and I can’t believe I’m actually chosen to be the Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl,” she added.

Ms. Abello, the 26-year-old model based in California, takes the calendar girl spot from actress Sanya Lopez who graced the liquor brand’s calendars for 2020.

The 2021 Ginebra San Miguel (GSM) calendars feature six layouts of Ms. Bellow being motivated and productive even during a pandemic by working from home, being creative, discovering new skills, and taking care of her body and well-being.

“We were not only charmed by her intelligence, but also by her optimism, her courage, her never-say-die spirit, her heart for others, and love for her kababayan (countrymen). We feel that she best represents the brand and we are very happy to welcome Christelle to our Ginebra San Miguel family,” Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. (GSMI) Sales and Marketing manager Allan Mercado said in a release.

She may have spent much of her life in the US but Ms. Abello noted that she is still very much in touch with her Filipino roots as her mother, she said, “heavily enforced Filipino culture and values at home,” which includes learning Filipino.

Ms. Abello’s mother hailed from Cavite while her father was born in Aklan, the province she represented in the Miss Universe Philippine pageant. She landed in the Top 16 of the pageant, with the crown going to Iloilo’s Rabiya Mateo on Oct. 25.

“The world of pageantry fascinated me so much because I witnessed phenomenal women and beautiful and confident women like Pia Wurtzbach who made a mark in this world. And they impelled me to say that I can do this too,” she said of her dream of becoming a beauty queen.

The Ginebra San Miguel tradition of releasing calendars featuring beautiful women started in 1988, inspired by the US TV series Charlie’s Angels. Through the years, the calendar has become a collector’s item.

Some of the previous calendar girls were: Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (2019), actress Arci Muñoz (2018), actress/model Kim Domingo (2017), and actress Marian Rivera (2009 and 2014). — ZBC

Basic Energy stockholders okay hike in authorized capital to P5B

BASIC ENERGY Corp. (BSC) is doubling its authorized capital stock to P5 billion from P2.5 billion.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Monday, the company said its stockholders had approved the increase in its authorized capital stock to P5 billion.

The capital stock will comprise 20 billion shares with a par value of P0.25 per share and the “waiver by a majority stockholders of the mandatory rights offer requirement” of the Philippine Stock Exchange’s listing rules for the listing of shares issued out of the increase in the authorized capital stock.

In an earlier disclosure, the company said that for the period ending June 30, it recorded a total revenue of P2.73 million and total cost and expenses of P24.82 million, which resulted in a net loss of P22.09 million.

The company said its total assets as of June 30 stood at P573.05 million, a decrease of P27.52 million from P600.58 million as of Dec. 31 last year.

“Current assets, composed mostly of cash and cash equivalents amounting to P94.88 million, receivables amounting to P35.23 million, refundable deposits amounting to P22.53 million, and other current assets amounting to P2.93 million, decreased by P11.78 million, as these were used for operations,” the company said.

It added that its non-current assets decreased by P15.75 million, primarily due to the decrease in financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) amounting to P17.5 million.

The company’s total liabilities decreased by P11.26 million from P42.85 million as of Dec. 31 last year to P31.58 million as of June 30 this year.

It said the decrease was primarily due to the “partial payment of the accrued retirement benefit payable.”

The listed firm’s stockholders’ equity as of June 30 stood at P550.83 million, a decrease of P15.98 million from P566.81 million as of December last year.

“This was primarily due to the net loss booked for the first half of 2020 of P21.81 million and increased in cumulative translation adjustment of P5.33 million,” it said.

Shares in Basic Energy on Monday closed 3.81% higher at P0.218 apiece. — Angelica Y. Yang

Construction of Roma Point Bridge under way

CONSTRUCTION of the Roma Point Bridge, which will connect Alabat island to mainland Quezon Province is now under way.

The 1.7-kilometer Alabat bridge project broke ground in 2018 and its foundation posts have been in place as of March 2020.

Since parts of the bridge structure will be submerged under seawater, the project required the use of Type 2 cement which is able to withstand constant sulfate attack.

Republic Cement is the only cement manufacturer that is licensed to produce Type 2 cement in Luzon. The company has given technical assistance through on-site trial mixes, raw materials testing, and concrete training for the project contractors through its Fast Lab on Wheels (FLOW) Truck. The project is being undertaken in partnership with contractor MG Lualhati Construction Corporation.

“We are proud and honored to continue supporting the nation as it builds its way to a brighter future. We understand that the country’s cement needs will continue to evolve and become more sophisticated as more and more projects go full steam ahead,” Republic Cement Chief Executive Officer Nabil Francis said in a statement.

Entertainment News (10/27/20)

The Hows of Us now available online

A BLOCKBUSTER Filipino romance, The Hows of Us, which broke box office records in 2018, is now available on the iTunes Store, the Amazon Prime Video and iWantTFC platforms, and will be available on Google Play on Nov. 3. Directed for ABS-CBN Star Cinema by award-winning director Cathy Garcia-Molina, co-writing the screenplay with Carmi G. Raymundo, Crystal S. San Miguel and Gillian Ebreo, the film stars real-life couple Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo. It follows two college students, George (Bernardo) and Primo (Padilla), who fall in love. George is into science, wanting to become a doctor. Primo is into the arts, aspiring to hit it big as a band musician. George inherits a house and she and Primo decide to live together while dreaming of success in their respective fields and pledging undying support for each other no matter what. But then Primo fails to get the big break he’s been working for, and while George continues to be faithful and supportive, a frustrated Primo turns into a difficult person. It reaches a point when George gives up and Primo walks away. Is there still a second chance at love for this couple? The star couple also has a new digital series entitled The House Arrest of Us which became available to viewers worldwide on iWantTFC and TFC IPTV on Oct. 25, with a new episode dropping every Sunday. For more information on The Hows of Us on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and iWantTFC and The House Arrest of Us on iWantTFC and TFC IPTV, visit mytfc.com/movies.

Club Knots offers fun for stay-at-home kids

TO ENCOURAGE imaginative play at home and bring adults and kids closer together, Jack ‘n Jill Knots launched Club Knots — a Facebook page dedicated to provide creative and fun activities that families can enjoy doing together. The page will feature video tutorials like Elephant Puffs, Shadow Play, and more. Follow www.facebook.com/ClubKnots.

Naomi G joins Umami Records

ECLECTIC newcomer Naomi G has joined Umami Records and marks her official debut with the release of “Cage The Animal,” a gothic pop-R&B tune that chronicles the cycle of abusive and toxic relationships. The song is described in a release as “merging the broody minimalism of Lorde and Banks with the chameleonic tendencies of artists like Halsey.” “Cage The Animal” is the lead single for Naomi G’s debut EP which is scheduled for release over 2021.

New single from The Midnight Greetings released

THE MIDNIGHT Greetings, the solo bedroom pop project of Cebu-based musician Kyle Maraton, paints a drowsy picture of emptiness on his debut single “Youth,” released via indie record label, Lilystars Records. The lo-fi tune makes good on the promise of Kyle’s shaggy charm and confessional songwriting. He wrote “Youth” during a very productive period last year, but was suffering bouts of depression. The Midnight Greetings albumdelivers a coming-of-age soundtrack with timeless appeal. In “Youth,” Kyle wears his Gen Z angst on his sleeves. “Youth” is now available on various digital and streaming platforms worldwide via Lilystars Records.

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