PNB launches two new global feeder funds

September 23, 2021 | 12:01 am

PHILIPPINE National Bank launched two offshore feeder funds. — BW FILE PHOTO

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL Bank (PNB) has launched two new global feeder funds to help clients diversify their portfolios and generate higher income by investing in global assets.

The bank’s trust banking group is offering the new funds to local investors aiming for long-term capital growth, with 90% of assets to be allotted in a certain target fund, PNB President and CEO Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso said in a press release on Wednesday.

“The PNB Global Feeder Funds give our investors the ability to venture globally and diversify into global stocks,” PNB Chief Trust Officer Jiah R. Santos said.

One of the new funds is the PNB World Perspectives Equity Feeder Fund, which will have the Franklin Global Growth Fund as its target fund. Investors will be able to tap international companies known for their sustainable growth.

The local bank said it teamed up with global asset management firm Franklin Templeton, which has more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management.

Meanwhile, the second product is the PNB US Equity Sustainability Leaders Feeder Fund, which allows clients to invest in US companies that have environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) characteristics through its target fund, the Legg Mason ClearBridge US Equity Sustainability Leaders Fund.

“We understand the needs of some of our clients who have aggressive risk appetites or those who want to invest in global equities,” Mr. Veloso said.

He said investing in these global feeder funds will help individuals manage their money and expand their portfolios to include international assets.

The two new funds are available for a $1,000 minimum investment and can be tapped through the bank’s unit investment trust fund online platform, as well as in all PNB physical branches.

On June 15, the bank obtained approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to launch the offshore funds.

Regulators have also allowed the Tan-led lender to offer a Personal Equity and Retirement Account product, an investment scheme authorized by Republic Act 9505 that encourages Filipinos to save up for their retirement.

PNB’s net income surged to P20.388 billion in the second quarter from just P52.597 million a year ago as it booked a one-time windfall from the transfer of three prime real estate properties to another unit of the LT Group.

Shares in PNB ended at P20.60 apiece on Wednesday, up by 60 centavos or by 3% from the previous day. — B.M. Laforga

A taste of buko pie may trigger a remembrance of road trips past

September 23, 2021 | 12:01 am

FOR many Filipinos, buko (young coconut) pie is the foundation of many road trip memories. Seeing that road trips have been suspended indefinitely due to the pandemic, perhaps a slice of pie will bring back memories of those trips?

While buying a pie from a roadside stand is not really possible these days, there is the option of getting one online. This is where Platefuly comes in.

The brother and sister team of Luisito and Liliane Barcelon dared to go into the pie business during the pandemic. Their brand, Platefuly, started in September last year by offering exactly six pie samples to friends and relatives. Since then, the Tagaytay-based pie operation has gone on to sell 30,000 pies.

“[Ever] since I can remember, our mom loved to experiment with recipes. When we all moved to South Korea, we would have many guests in our house and our mom would cook and bake new recipes all the time, whether Filipino or international cuisine,” said Mr. Barcelon in an e-mail to BusinessWorld. “Each year, our mom would bake pies for special occasions, but she was never really satisfied with the pie crust. Year after year, she would experiment more to improve her pie crust recipe. It was not until my parents was about to move to the Philippines to retire that she finally perfected her light, buttery, and flakey pie crust recipe.”

The pie crust recipe was developed initially for a Chicken Hand Pie (which this writer has tried: the crust itself had a great buttery taste and a nice crumble to it). The other pies came first, but the buko pie proved to be a bestseller.

Mr. Barcelon is going against many buko pies set in their ways, and settled into the minds of Southern Luzon tourists. He and his sister laid down their propositions for a superior pie: baked fresh daily, a creamy coconut filling, and a consistent taste whether served at room temperature or refrigerated.

They have since taken onboard a few workers who have had no prior experience in baking, most displaced by the pandemic. “Platefuly welcomes everyone in their team as long as they have the passion to create something new, have the willingness to learn, and love to be part of a positive team environment,” said Mr. Barcelon.

Mr. Barcelon discussed the challenges of opening a business during the pandemic — which frankly, from his point of view, sounded a bit fun.

“Despite the pandemic, we thought there wouldn’t be a better chance for us to start Platefuly. Since everyone was working from home and we had the support of our parents, we planned to see how things would start before committing to the business full time,” he said. “We were careful though, only expanding depending on the demand for our product. But our focus was not so much in sales in the beginning, but making our mom happy when we hear that people are enjoying her recipe and that they would like to order again.”

He gave tips to other small businesses who plan to kick off during this challenging time. “What worked with Platefuly and what we can tell other people who are thinking of starting a business during the pandemic is to focus on what you are passionate about and transform that as your business.

“My mom is passionate about cooking and baking. My sister and I are passionate on spreading our mom’s recipe to as many people as we can. We want the recipe that our mom created to reach as far as possible and bring joy to as many people as possible. This has been the center of Platefuly, to bring joy to our customers through our mom’s recipe,” he said.

Buko pies (including variations like the Premium Ube Buko Pie and Premium Buko Pandan Pie) can be ordered through Facebook and Instagram (@Platefuly), or e-mail (platefuly@gmail.com). Their other products are Classic Chicken Hand Pies, Savory Chicken Hand Pies, and El Paso Hand Pies (available by the piece and box) and cheesecakes (blueberry, strawberry and mango) in both tins and jars

While, yes, they are based in Tagaytay, pickup points for the pies (priced starting P285) can be arranged at Festival Mall or South Super Market in Alabang, Robinsons Forum in Mandaluyong, or Robinsons Galleria. — J.L. Garcia

AI and the cloud enable energy’s transformative leap

September 23, 2021 | 12:01 am

THE current pandemic has shown the oil and gas sector how dependable enterprise operations can be upended almost overnight. Work force routines at extraction sites and refineries have been disrupted, causing unplanned outages, as we saw at the Sharara oilfield. With supply chains interrupted, parts manufactured in traditional source markets could not be delivered on time, delaying essential maintenance. Border closures and an unprecedented drop in demand have further constricted already tight economic operations.

Not only do these conditions look set to continue over the short term, but other challenges loom over the foreseeable future. A supply glut and a depressed outlook for hydrocarbon prices have been forecast over the medium term, and over the long term, oil demand could peak within two decades as fuel demand drops and pressure to act on climate change mounts.

To thrive in this brave new world, oil and gas players must respond with transformative action, taking inspiration from the industry’s bold, pathbreaking history. At AVEVA, we have made it our mission to help companies capitalize on current opportunities, while striving to protect lives and livelihoods for the companies and communities we serve.

Success in a post-pandemic world will require innovative thinking and action at scale. Here, two transformative new technologies will shape a sustainable future for oil and gas and its partner industries, and for the world around us. These are artificial intelligence, or AI, and cloud computing.

AI IS ENABLING BETTER DECISIONS
AI has been with us for over six decades. As it becomes more sophisticated, with wider use cases, it allows organizations to improve productivity. With unified smart analytics that bridge complete data stacks, teams can leverage mathematical thought processes across all their activities. Individuals are thus afforded scale and capacity that would otherwise have been unavailable: knowledge, data-led intelligence, and the capacity to recognize new opportunities. AI enables people to make better decisions — and even recommends courses of action — that enhance the capabilities of human staff. Overall, McKinsey predicts that AI will drive a 2% growth in manufacturing and energy for the next decade — or $1 trillion every year.

At AVEVA, we have been using AI to enhance the value chain over the past 15 years, with specific applications for predictive analytics in the maintenance and asset performance space. Aramco, for example, uses AI and advanced analytics solutions to help eliminate unplanned downtime across its diverse operations.

THE CLOUD OFFERS CONNECTED INSIGHTS
Leverage the cloud here and we are able to integrate standalone products, linking AI modules together into a broader intelligence for more efficient performance. With integrated systems comes integrated analysis. AI can produce increasingly more complex insights and recommendations for human work forces quicker and with less chance of error. If AI underpins better decision making, cloud is the glue that binds it all together.

The cloud helps scale the benefits of AI across the entire range of enterprise operations as opposed to the past, when narrow AI was infused into various products. This broader AI leads to general artificial intelligence — the ability to make a complex decision using combinations of different types of AI, to learn something in one place and apply it elsewhere. The development of general AI is very much a continuum, and the potential benefits are enormous. Lessons from the resource extraction operation could very well be applied to another division.

With the shift to digital business models following COVID-19, the trend has gathered speed, and we are now partnering with clients worldwide to leverage those benefits.

Jim Chappell, Global Head of AI and Advanced Analytics, AVEVA

Phoenix Petroleum’s market share grows to 8.3%

September 23, 2021 | 12:01 am

DENNIS A. Uy-led oil firm Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. said that it was able to corner a bigger market share in the six months ending June, according to a disclosure on Wednesday.

Citing recent data from the Department of Energy (DoE), Phoenix said its market share in the domestic petroleum industry stood at 8.3% in the first half, an improvement from its 7.1% share as of end-2020.

The firm said that its market share more than doubled in the past decade. In 2011, its share accounted for 3.3% of the domestic market, but this has since climbed to over 8% 10 years later.

This development “effectively cements its position as the third largest oil player in the country, and inching closer to the top two majors,” it added.

“As a Filipino company that started much smaller 19 years ago, we at Phoenix are glad and proud that the market is showing more appreciation and support for what we have to offer. Not only does it show how far we’ve come as a brand, but is also very telling of the capability of newer and smaller Filipino businesses to compete with well-established, global brands,” said Phoenix Petroleum President and Chief Executive Officer Henry Albert R. Fadullon.

The firm joined what is described as “smaller firms” which registered a cumulative market share of 52.5% in the domestic petroleum market during the first half of 2021, excluding entities listed under the “end users” category.

Phoenix Petroleum previously reported a net income of P132 million for the second quarter, higher by 9% versus its year-on-year level amid better local sales of its fuel and liquefied petroleum gas products.

Phoenix Petroleum shares at the local bourse shed 1.73% or 22 centavos to finish at P12.48 apiece on Wednesday. — Angelica Y. Yang

ADB keeps Philippines growth forecast at 4.5% in 2021, 5.5% in 2022

September 23, 2021 | 12:00 am

THE ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) kept its Philippine growth forecast as more signs of recovery emerged, and warned that a premature withdrawal of support may threaten an already fragile recovery. Read the full story.

How PSEi member stocks performed — September 22, 2021

September 23, 2021 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, September 22, 2021.

Peso weakens versus the dollar ahead of US Federal Reserve’s decision

September 22, 2021 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO retreated versus the greenback on Wednesday ahead of the policy decision of the US Federal Reserve and due to a sharp increase in oil prices.

The local unit closed at P50.27 per dollar on Wednesday, shedding 13 centavos from its Wednesday finish of P50.14, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened Wednesday’s session at P50.18 versus the dollar. Its weakest showing was at P50.30, while its intraday best was at P50.08 against the greenback.

Dollars exchanged rose to $1.239 billion on Wednesday from $998 million on Tuesday.

A trader said the peso weakened due to “hawkish expectations” ahead of the Fed’s policy decision.

The Federal Open Market Committee held its policy review from Tuesday to Wednesday and its decision was expected to be released overnight.

Investors want to see if the Fed’s policy statement will give clearer guidance regarding the timing of its plan to reduce its bond purchases.

Meanwhile, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Michael L. Ricafort said higher oil prices also affected peso-dollar trading.

Reuters reported that oil prices jumped by more than $1 per barrel on Wednesday following data showing crude stocks dropped more than expected last week due to the impact of the two hurricanes.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures inched up $1.08 or 1.5% to $71.57 a barrel by 0643 GMT on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Brent crude futures climbed $1.03 or 1.4% to $75.39 per barrel.

For Thursday, the trader gave a forecast range of P50.15 to P50.40, while Mr. Ricafort expects the local unit to move from P50.15 to P50.35 per dollar. — LWTN with Reuters

Stocks rise as NCR virus reproduction rate drops

September 22, 2021 | 9:00 pm

STOCKS posted gains on Wednesday as report from an independent research group showed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reproduction rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) continued to decline.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went up by 9.53 points or 0.13% on Wednesday to close at 6,890.73, while the broader all shares index rose 21.58 points or 0.50% to 4,286.57.

“Market sustained its recovery today up 9.53 points, though off highs as investors’ confidence improve on news that the Philippines could possibly be in the homestretch of its battle against the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, especially in Metro Manila where the reproduction number has started to decline,” Papa Securities Corp. Equities Strategist Manny P. Cruz said in a text message on Wednesday.

“The minimal decline in Chinese markets that reopened today also aided the rally today,” Mr. Cruz said.

Fredegusto Guido P. David, a research fellow at the OCTA Research Group, said in a social media post on Tuesday that the reproduction number in the country’s capital slipped to 1.03 from 1.33 as COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila continue to decline.

The Health department logged 16,361 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, bringing total active cases to 171,142 and the country’s tally to 2,401,916.

Meanwhile, Chinese stocks fell on Wednesday, led by banking and consumer staples, while real estate shares jumped after developer Evergrande assured it could make a bond interest payment.

The CSI300 index fell 1.1% to 4,801.94 by the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3% to 3,603.41, Reuters reported.

Sectoral indices were split. Services climbed 54.38 points or 2.93% to 1,905.63; mining and oil gained by 205.04 points or 2.24% to finish at 9,340.91; and industrials improved by 93.58 points or 0.93% to 10,095.66.

Meanwhile, property lost 26.18 points or 0.86% to end at 2,992.46; financials declined by 9.66 points or 0.68% to 1,408.79; and holding firms shed 19.60 points or 0.28% to 6,937.44.

Value turnover decreased to P6.49 billion with 705.34 million shares switching hands on Tuesday, down from the P7.08 billion with 860.44 million issues traded the previous day.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 128 against 82, as 37 names closed unchanged on Wednesday.

Foreigners turned buyers, logging P33.17 million in net purchases on Wednesday, a turnaround from the P216.35 million in net outflows seen on Tuesday.

Timson Securities, Inc. Trader Darren Blaine T. Pangan said he expects the market to trade between 6,780 and 7,000 in the coming days following the decrease in the COVID-19 reproduction number in the country’s capital. — K.C.G. Valmonte with Reuters

Bellevue Manila joins month-long sale, implements sanitation solutions for a worry-free guest experience

September 22, 2021 | 8:45 pm

By Patricia Mirasol

As The Bellevue Manila participates in the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International’s September Online Sale (SOS), its management told BusinessWorld that it has invested in rigorous health solutions to bring a worry-free experience to its guests.

Other Bellevue Hotels and Resorts (BH&R) properties – B Hotel Quezon City and The Bellevue Resort Bohol – have also joined SOS, which is ongoing until Oct. 15

“We implement beyond minimum health and safety standards in all of our facilities to ward off the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and other diseases,” said Marivic A. Recio, resident manager of The Bellevue Manila, in an e–mail. Among the solutions the hotel has invested in are HEPA filter portable air purifiers, UV-C light disinfection, electrostatic spraying and misting solutions, dry steam cleaners, and World Health Organization-listed, hospital-grade surface disinfectants.

“[W]e have already begun upgrading our air conditioning filtration system by using hospital-grade merv13 filters. It’s an ongoing project,” said Ms.Recio. “Our HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system is also capable of regulating fresh air intake to meet the required number of air changes per hour.”

Areas with high foot traffic such as lobbies, reception areas, and lavatories are disinfected every two hours. High touch surfaces such as elevator buttons, meanwhile, undergo hourly disinfection with an eco-friendly disinfectant.

“Our employees are also required to have their own small bottle of alcohol in their pockets all the time,” added Ms. Recio.

Diners at The Bellevue Manila’s Phoenix Court – which is currently open at 10% capacity for dine-in because of the currently enforced Alert Level 4 community quarantine guidelines in the National Capital Region (NCR) – will be asked to present their vaccination certifications.

The Bellevue Manila has been certified as a Multiple-Use Hotel, and accepts both quarantine and non-quarantine guests. It is currently open for business stay. Ms. Recio told BusinessWorld that its Certificate of Authority to Operate for Staycations, issued by the Department of Tourism (DoT), will enable the hotel to accept leisure travelers when the NCR shifts to General Community Quarantine status.

As the different BH&R properties currently cater to different guests because of the pandemic — the B Hotel Quezon City is for quarantine use, and The Bellevue Hotel Resort – Bohol is for leisure guests — they observe different suitable health solutions from those of The Bellevue Manila.

For this year’s SOS, BH&R properties are offering packages that can be used up to December 2022:

The Bellevue Manila – vouchers for ensaymada purchases and Phoenix Court restaurant patrons
B Hotel Quezon City – discounts for Superior Room bookings, group dinners for 10, and the B Blissful wedding package
The Bellevue Resort, Bohol – promos for themed party packages, as well as day use of select facilities.

Other hotels that have joined this year’s SOS include The Bayleaf Intramuros, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Crimson Hotel Filinvest, Banaue Hotel, Summit Ridge Tagaytay, Alta Vista de Boracay, Savoy Hotel Mactan, and Bacau Resort Coron.

The inaugural 2020 SOS generated P14 million in confirmed bookings. The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association is hopeful that the number will double this year.

Stability of public health is a minimum requirement for accelerating the opening of local tourism, according to the DoT’s 2021 Philippine Travel Survey, conducted in partnership with the Asian Institute of Management and Guide to the Philippines. A standardized set of health protocols was also found necessary for promoting tourist activity.

Among the health and safety guidelines the DoT issued for accommodation establishments are online bookings, contactless greetings, and the proper use of face masks.

Duterte hits rich nations for ‘hoarding’ vaccines

September 22, 2021 | 8:28 pm

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo R. Duterte has criticized wealthy nations for hoarding coronavirus vaccines, while poor countries struggle to secure shots for their people.

“Rich countries hoard life-saving vaccines while poor nations wait for trickles,” the tough-talking leader said in a taped speech to the 193-member United Nations General Assembly.

Vaccine inequity is a “man-made drought” ravaging poor countries, Mr. Duterte said. “The picture is bleak.”

He described vaccine hoarding as a shockingly “selfish act” that should be condemned.

The country has received almost 65 million doses of coronavirus vaccines. About 18.82 million Filipinos or 24% of its adult population had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as of Sept. 20.

The President also railed against rich countries for talking about booster shots “while developing countries consider half doses just to get by.”

The Philippine Health department earlier said its proposed P104-billion budget for booster shots had been cut to P45 billion.

The World Health Organization has been urging advanced countries to suspend a plan to give out booster shots until at least the end of the year to ensure supplies for poor countries.

Mr. Duterte earlier accused the European Union of holding up vaccine supplies from other countries, citing the economic bloc’s export rule that requires drugmakers to obtain permission first before shipping out coronavirus vaccines.

The President urged the country’s “privileged partners” to fully support a global initiative for equal vaccine access.

“We need this to save more lives, break the cycle of variants and help ensure global economic recovery,” he said.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 15,592 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, bringing the total to 2.42 million.

The death toll rose to 37,228 after 154 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 24,059 to 2.22 million, it said in a bulletin.

There were 162,580 active cases, 92% of which were mild, 3% did not show symptoms, 1.5% were severe, 2.81% were moderate and 0.7% were critical.

The death rate has fallen to 1.47% this year from 2.47% last year despite a fourfold increase in infections. Coronavirus infections reached 1.9 million from Jan. 1 to Sept. 1 from 472,205 at the end of last year.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire traced the fall in the death rate to the country’s improved health system and increased protection from the virus through vaccines. Metro Manila had the highest number of cases and the lowest death rate this year at 1%, DoH said.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila’s coronavirus reproduction rate fell to 1.03 on Tuesday from 1.11 a week earlier, the OCTA Research Group from the University of the Philippines Diliman said.

“The decrease in new cases in the National Capital Region continues,” OCTA fellow Fredegusto P. David tweeted.

The capital region had a daily average of 4,784 cases from Sept. 15 to 21, or an 18% decline, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Duterte urged rich nations to do their part in fighting climate change, which has “exposed the varying vulnerabilities of countries around the globe.”

“Developed countries must fulfill their longstanding commitment to climate financing, technology transfer and capacity-building in the developing world,” he said. “This a moral obligation that cannot be avoided.”

The global shift to a green economy should not be at the expense of developing countries’ economic vitality, he said. “It simply cannot be or it will be another travesty of justice.”

Mr. Duterte said the Philippines had submitted a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.

He added that he had issued a moratorium on the construction of new coal power plants and an order to explore the nuclear energy option.

“The Philippines accepts its share of responsibility and will do its part to avert this collective disaster,” he said.

Mr. Duterte earlier issued an order that lifted his predecessor’s nine-year moratorium on new mineral agreements. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

House bill seeks to force Pinoys to get COVID-19 vaccines

September 22, 2021 | 8:27 pm

A BILL that seeks to force Filipinos to get vaccinated against the coronavirus has been filed at the House of Representatives.

San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida P. Robes filed House Bill 10249, which imposes a 30-day jail term and a P10,000 fine on people who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).

The measure exempts Filipinos with conflicting religious beliefs or a medical condition that can get worse if they get inoculated.

It also discourages discrimination against those who would refuse vaccination such as loss of employment or enrollment.

The Department of Health along with local governments and civil society groups should continue to educate Filipinos about the benefits of coronavirus vaccines, according to the bill.

Ms. Robes said the mandatory vaccination programs is not uncommon, noting that there are laws requiring immunization against diseases such as Hepatitis-B.

More than 42 million coronavirus vaccines had been given out as of Sept. 21, with 19.02 million Filipinos having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from an inter-agency task force. — Russell Louis C. Ku

Manila chief to hire millennials if he becomes President

September 22, 2021 | 8:27 pm

Isko Moreno — ISKO MORENO DOMAGOSO FB PAGE

MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso on Wednesday said he would hire millennials if he becomes president, as he vowed to form a government “with the best and brightest” people.

At the launch of his presidential bid in the Philippine capital, the former matinee idol said he would appoint officials who are competent and not because they are his friends. He also vowed to fire corrupt officials.

“Leaders should not only think outside of the box, they must also choose people outside their circle,” Mr. Domagoso, 46, said. “A leader who does not inspire the best among us to serve in government ends up surrounded by the least among us who are ruining the government instead of running it well.”

He cited the need for “constant innovation.” “I may not give you perfect government but together we can make it better,” said Mr. Domagaso, whose vice-presidential running mate will be Willie T. Ong, a cardiologist who lost in the senatorial race in 2019.

He said he would enforce an open governance policy, which he started in Manila by allowing residents to send suggestions on how to improve government service straight to his office.

“I will welcome criticism because the value in listening to complaints is they lead to better policies and improve services,” he added.

Mr. Domagoso slammed the government’s pandemic response and the leadership style of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“We’ve been under quarantine for 557 days, but instead of flattening the curve, we have flattened our economy,” he said. “Many people continue flatlining in hospitals.”

Mr. Domagoso said he would avoid senseless speeches late at night, alluding to Mr. Duterte’s televised speeches in which he has attacked political opponents including the Manila mayor.

The President has said Mr. Domagoso does not deserve to become president given his past as a sexy actor.

The Manila chief, who ran and lost in the 2016 senatorial race, said leaders who flip-flop on their political ambitions could not be trusted.

Months before the May 2016 elections, Mr. Duterte said he would not run for President, only to change his mind by becoming a substitute candidate. The tough-talking leader has said he would abandon his vice-presidential ambition for 2022 if his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio runs for President.

Mr. Domagoso used to be a scavenger and pedicab driver in a Manila slum before he was discovered by a talent scout.

“While poverty dehumanizes, it must not take the humanity out of you,” he said. “Yes, I grew up poor but I have never been disrespectful,” he added in Filipino. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza