Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 7637

Tarlac solar farm boosts PetroEnergy’s earnings

YUCHENGCO-LED PetroEnergy Resources Corp. said on Thursday that its attributable net income to the parent firm rose 9% to P319 million in 2020 on the back of higher revenues from its solar plant in Tarlac.

“[PetroEnergy’s] strong financial performance in 2020 was driven largely by the full-year operations of its 20 MW Tarlac-2 solar plant, the latter’s higher than forecasted revenues due to prolonged ‘summer’ in 2020, and FIT (feed-in tariff)-rate adjustments,” it said in a regulatory filing.

The operations of the solar plant have offset lower oil revenues from the company’s oil ventures in Gabon, West Africa as a result of a lower average crude oil price at $49.72 per barrel last year compared with 2019’s $64.94 a barrel.

PetroEnergy said it was able to maintain a “healthy consolidated financial position in 2020” because of its overall revenue and income growth.

In its disclosure, the firm said that its consolidated net income increased by 21% to P640 million in 2020. Meanwhile, its equity attributable to the parent for the year rose 8% to P5.3 billion.

PetroEnergy is engaged in petroleum production through the Etame consortium in Gabon, and in renewable energy in the Philippines through its unit PetroGreen Energy Corp.

PetroGreen’s subsidiaries and affiliates are: the 65%-owned Maibarara Geothermal, Inc., which owns the 20 MW Maibarara Geothermal Power Project (MGPP) in Santo Tomas, Batangas and its expansion, the 12 MW MGPP-2; the 40%-owned PetroWind Energy, Inc., which owns the 36-MW Nabas Wind Power Project in Nabas and Malay, Aklan; and the 56%-owned PetroSolar Corp., which owns the 50-MW-direct current Tarlac Solar Power Project.

Shares in PetroEnergy at the local bourse improved 2.50% or 10 centavos to finish at P4.10 apiece on Thursday. — Angelica Y. Yang

Meghan to publish children’s book based on husband and son

LONDON —  Meghan, Britain’s Duchess of Sussex, is to publish a children’s book next month titled The Bench about the relationship between a father and son based on her husband Prince Harry and the couple’s child Archie, the publisher said on Tuesday. The book is the latest venture by Meghan and Harry, Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, since they stepped down from royal duties and moved to Los Angeles last year with Archie, who celebrates his second birthday later this week. Illustrated by artist Christian Robinson, The Bench will be published on June 8, with Meghan narrating an audiobook version, publisher Random House Children’s Books said. “The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born. That poem became this story,” the duchess said in a statement. “My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine.” Meghan, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, is not the first royal to venture into the world of children’s literature. Heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles wrote The Old Man of Lochnagar based on stories he used to tell his young brothers, while Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has also penned a number of children’s stories. — Reuters

Singlife targets higher PHL market share

SINGAPORE LIFE Philippines (Singlife Philippines) is targeting to grow its customer base to 150,000 by yearend and capture 10% of the overall market by 2025 as the fully digital life insurer eyes to expand its reach in the country.

“What we put ourselves as a target is that we do want to have, like 10% of the people with a life insurance policy in 2025 should be with Singlife,” Singlife Philippines CEO Rien Hermans said in a briefing on Thursday.

Mr. Hermans said they also aim to hit P350 million in annualized premium equivalent this year.

“We do not want to grow immediately to become a number one player in the market, but we do want to grow to be very significant in the number of customers we have,” he added.

The local unit of the Singapore Life Private Ltd. currently has two products in the market covering insurance against dengue and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and an income protection suite through GCash, which Singlife Philippines partnered with in October 2020. The GCash Insurance Marketplace, an online marketplace for life insurance products, was announced in July 2020.

Singlife Philippines said it had more than 32,500 policyholders and P34.2 million in annualized premium equivalent as of April.

The company plans to team up with two new digital network partners to expand its distribution channels and reach more customers, its top official said.

“We are always on the lookout for partners that can offer our products in their digital platforms. Ideally, there should be a significant overlap between our target market and their customer base,” Mr. Hermans said.

Singlife Philippines will also add two new insurance products to be sold through GCash, as well as introduce a direct-to-customer product allowing policyholders to take control of their finances, similar to the Singlife Account launched by its parent in Singapore in 2019.

Mr. Hermans said they will also be introducing their own variable universal life (VUL) insurance policies, minus the penalties in case customers want to end their coverage ahead of schedule.

He noted that the company’s target market is the country’s growing middle class as it focuses on targeted but flexible life insurance products that can be accessed anytime.

Instead of hiring agents, he said the company uses digital solutions to boost their sales and improve customer service while saving on operational costs.

“The big difference [of the company against existing players] is actually in the technology. We are able [to operate] on low costs, be very flexible and directly respond to the customer’s needs,” Mr. Hermans said.

Singlife Philippines secured its license to operate from the Insurance Commission in February 2020 to become the first fully digital life insurance company in the country.

It launched its first products later in the year. — B.M. Laforga

Gov’t urged to draft nursing graduates to plug staffing gaps

A LEGISLATOR with the House majority declared her support for a proposal to draft trained nurses who have not yet been licensed into the effort to contain the pandemic.

In a statement Thursday, Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said: “I’m sure there are a lot of them who are willing to help and are just waiting to be tapped to fight against COVID-19.”

On Wednesday, Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco said the government agencies regulating the profession should look into tapping graduates of nursing courses who are not yet registered nurses, asking the Department of Health and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to help address the manpower shortage in healthcare.

Unregistered nurses should be allowed work in health facilities as long as the PRC arranges for their supervision under a registered doctor or nurse. Mr. Velasco added.

Ms. Herrera-Dy said a number of hospitals reportedly cannot accommodate the volume of patients due to worker shortages.

“We need all the help we can get to ensure that we will emerge victorious in our battle against the coronavirus,” she said.

The PRC on Wednesday announced that the May 2021 nursing licensure exams will be pushed back to July. — Gillian M. Cortez

Nickel Asia swings to profitability on higher ore prices

NICKEL ASIA Corp. swung to profitability in the first quarter after posting a P584.1 million attributable net income, mainly due to the higher ore selling prices.

The listed company said in a stock exchange disclosure on Thursday that its net income during the January to March period is a reversal of the P89.34 million net loss it had in 2020.

Its revenues increased 43.4% to P3.17 billion from P2.21 billion the previous year, while its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased 110% to P1.69 billion from P804 million.

In the first three months, Nickel Asia said it sold a total of 2.82 million wet metric tons (WMT) of ore at an average realized price of $20.64 per WMT, an improvement from the 2.78 million WMT priced at $12.97 per WMT in the same quarter last year.

Broken down, the company said it exported 845,000 WMT of saprolite and limonite ore at $44.86 per WMT for the period, an increase from the 702,000 WMT at $28.67 per WMT in 2020.

Nickel Asia said it also delivered 1.98 million WMT of limonite ore to the plants of Coral Bay Nickel Corp. and Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. at an average realized price of $7.96 per pound of payable nickel, higher than the 2.08 million WMT at $5.80 per pound of payable nickel the year earlier.

“As a result of higher London Metal Exchange (LME) prices, the company recognized gain from its equity share in its investments in the two HPAL plants in the amount of P115 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to a loss of P10 million in the same period last year,” Nickel Asia said.

“The realized Peso to US Dollar exchange rate for ore sales was P48.41 compared to P50.85 in the prior year,” it added.

Martin Antonio G. Zamora, Nickel Asia president and chief executive officer, said the nickel price on the LME sustained its momentum from last year.

“This was both supply-driven, because of the Indonesian ore export ban, and demand-driven, due to the upgrading of forecasts with respect to the electric vehicle market,” Mr. Zamora said in the disclosure.

“On our renewable energy business, we are pleased to announce the completion and electrification of Phase 3A of our Subic solar project, increasing our solar plant capacity from 32 megawatts to 62 megawatts as of April 9, 2021,” he added.

On Thursday, shares of Nickel Asia at the stock exchange fell 1.08% or six centavos to end at P5.47 apiece. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Entertainment News (05/07/21)

House Of The Dragon — Steve Toussaint

PumaPodcast wins human rights award

PUMAPODCAST’S groundbreaking podcast documentary series, the six-part Tokhang sa Tokhang, is a winner at the Human Rights Press Awards handed out by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club Hong Kong, Amnesty International, and the Hong Kong Journalists Association. Tokhang sa Tokhang was one of two winners in the audio category, given a Merit Award for its dive into the War on Drugs, Extra Judicial Killings, and the lingering effects the bloody campaign has had on families, children, communities, media, artists, and even the police and agents waging the war on the ground. Listen to the Tokhang sa Tokhang playlist on Spotify here: https://spoti.fi/3eVJvlc. Also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. Tokhang sa Tokhang, along with PumaPodcast and its news pods, Teka Teka, are also among the very first podcasts out of Asia to be curated for inclusion in the US Library of Congress Podcast Preservation Project.

HBO releases first official images from House of the Dragon

HBO has released the first official images from the upcoming drama series, House of The Dragon. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the series, which is set 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones, tells the story of House Targaryen. House of The Dragon recently began production and will debut on HBO and be available to stream on HBO GO in 2022. Featured cast include Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s first-born child and a dragonrider; Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, the younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne; Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, the most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros; Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, daughter of the Hand of the King, and the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms; and Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King. All eight seasons of Game of Thrones are now available for streaming or download on HBO GO.

Pusong Pinoy Sa Amerika is now on GTV

TO EDUCATE Filipinos on US migration policies, GMA Pinoy TV has premiered the magazine program Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika in the Philippines on GTV. The program has been airing on GMA Pinoy TV since 2006 and has educated many Filipino immigrants on the right way of processing their visas. Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika Season 16 now  airs in the Philippines on Sundays, 11:30 p.m. on GTV. Viewers abroad can watch it on GMA Pinoy TV. For more information on how to watch GMA programs overseas, visit gmapinoytv.com/subscribe.

He’s Into Her on iWantTFC

BELLE Mariano and Donny Pangilinan star in ABS-CBN Entertainment, iWantTFC, and Star Cinema romantic series, He’s Into Her. Directed by Chad Vidanes, the series will start airing on May 30 on A2Z and the Kapamilya Channel. Based on the popular Precious Pages-LIB novel by Pinoy author Maxinejiji, the story follows young Maxpein (Mariano), who agrees to live in Manila upon the request of her father who helped her pay for her grandmother’s hospital bills. Maxpein ends up studying at the prestigious Benison International School. As she tries to fit in, she also clashes with Mr. Popular — Deib Lohr (Pangilinan). Her life soon turns upside down as Deib gets their entire batch to prank and bully her. He’s Into Her will air on iWantTFC on May 28, two days ahead of its premiere on the Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and on Kapamilya Online Live via the YouTube channel and Facebook page of ABS-CBN Entertainment.   

Paulo Avelino, Janine Gutierrez star in ABS-CBN teleserye

ABS-CBN Entertainment has announced the team up of Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez in its latest light family drama Marry Me, Marry You which marks the actors’ first TV project together and Gutierrez’s first teleserye on ABS-CBN. The series, which goes into production soon, will highlight the challenges that couples face together, particularly the traditional expectation that when a person marries someone, they are also marrying their entire family, friends, and everyone close to them. Marry Me, Marry You will also be the first ABS-CBN teleserye of award-winning actress Sunshine Dizon and of Jake Ejercito, who will figure in the love triangle between Avelino’s and Gutierrez’s characters. The series’ cast also includes veteran actors Cherry Pie Picache, Vina Morales, Teresa Loyzaga, Lito Pimentel, Joko Diaz, Jett Pangan, and Edu Manzano. The series is directed by Jojo Saguin and Dwein Ruedas Baltazar. Produced by Dreamscape Entertainment, Marry Me, Marry You will air soon on ABS-CBN platforms.

DJ Khaled drops new album

GRAMMY Award-winning multi-platinum artist, mega-producer DJ Khaled unveils his 12th full-length album, KHALED KHALED, via We The Best Music Group/Epic Records. Khaled and co-executive producers (his sons) Asahd Tuck Khaled and Aalam Tuck Khaled assembled the tracklist. The album’s songs include “Just Be” (featuring Justin Timberlake), “We Going Crazy” (featuring H.E.R. & Migos), and “I Did It” (featuring Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby & DaBaby). KHALED KHALED is available on Spotify,

The Kid LAROI joins Miley Cyrus on ‘Without You’

THE KID LAROI has tapped the multi-platinum recording artist/songwriter Miley Cyrus on the remix of his smash single, “Without You.” The star-studded release also comes with an accompanying music video that features the “Wrecking Ball” singer getting cozy with The Kid LAROI in various locations: on the hood of a car, beside a fireplace, and on a giant mushroom. The wistful music video is also directed by Ms. Cyrus, who lends her bluesy vocals to the viral tune. The song is part of The Kid LAROI’s recently released mixtape, F*CK LOVE, which music publication NME praised for its versatile artistry and exploration on “adolescent views on love, loss, and heartbreak with a penchant to let things get a bit gnarly here and there.”

Banks, officials to face sanctions for irregularities due to lax KYE mechanisms

BW FILE PHOTO

BANKS and their officials may face monetary and non-monetary penalties once irregularities occur due to their lax know-your-employee (KYE) mechanisms amid tighter restrictions from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“The range of sanctions that can be imposed on the bank can be monetary or non-monetary sanctions. The officer can be included in the watchlist file or disqualification to enter into the banking system, depending on the seriousness or gravity of the offense,” BSP Director for Financial System Integrity Department Florabelle M. Santos-Madrid said in an online briefing on Thursday.

Last month, the BSP issued Circular No. 1112, which directs lenders to come up with policies and risk management and control measures for the hiring and performance management of bank officials.

It requires lenders to screen applicants against available BSP records when assessing would-be employees’ “fitness and propriety” for a particular position.

“Previously, it’s (screening against BSP records) a voluntary action but now we mandate that to be done by the banks when they hire employees,” Ms. Santos-Madrid said.

In cases of irregularities with a criminal aspect, she said the central bank has the option to refer the case to the Anti-Money Laundering Council or other enforcement agencies.

The director said they update their database whenever they receive information regarding the disqualification of specific persons, based on reports submitted by banks.

“Based on our total records, we have around 7,500 names and the most common reason is dismissal for cause. Let me clarify that the information in the database is not limited to persons disqualified in banks,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said.

In April, the BSP said it will also start requiring lenders to report “reputational risks” within five calendar days from determination of an incident. These risks pertain to events that could lead to “financial losses, negative publicity, and loss of stakeholder confidence.”

“Robust know-your-employee procedures foster a stable banking system by weeding out unprincipled personnel who may cause reputational risk to a bank and the financial system,” Mr. Diokno said.

Lenders are given a year to fully comply with the guidelines on reputational risk management. — L.W.T. Noble

World’s biggest brands adopt checklist to rescue stuck seafarers

UNILEVER PLC and other big retail brands are among consumer giants adopting a toolkit to audit their shipping supply chains in an effort to help bring seafarers stuck on commercial vessels back home and eliminate human rights risks.

The voluntary initiative, which launches later this week, calls on companies that put cargo on shipping containers to address problems stemming from government-imposed restrictions on crew changes. It’s estimated more than 200,000 crew around the world are still stuck on vessels beyond the expiration of their contracts and well past globally accepted safety standards.

The program — part of a project by the UN Global Compact — is also expected to be endorsed by the powerful Consumer Goods Forum, a body that counts hundreds of the world’s biggest consumer companies as members, including Coca-Cola Co., Marks & Spencer Group Plc and Nestlé SA.

Since the pandemic, some countries have either stopped or limited access for ships to conduct seafarer changes in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID. 

“Throughout the pandemic, the world’s seafarers have been set adrift, stranded by COVID-19 restrictions with hundreds of thousands forced to work against their will,” said Stephen Cotton, general secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the union that represents seafarers. “Responsible players in the supply chain have acted, but many companies, whose goods haven’t stopped moving, have either been caught unaware or have chosen to ignore this humanitarian crisis. With the launch of this tool, companies now have no excuse.”

PRACTICAL STEPS
Any company that puts any sort of cargo on ships will be encouraged to use the checklist, which includes asking ship owners and those who charter space on vessels to ensure clauses that prevent crew changes aren’t being added to contracts.

Earlier, Bloomberg reporting found that some big commodities firms are avoiding hiring certain vessels or imposing conditions that block crew changes to relieve exhausted seafarers. Brands are also being encouraged to work with the union and shipping chamber to request a detailed audit of their supply chain — down to the ships that are being used to ferry their cargo as part of the human rights due diligence initiative.

Unilever, which like Bloomberg was able to review the program’s details before its launch, plans to adopt the toolkit, according to Chief Supply Chain Officer Marc Engel. The company last year spearheaded a letter urging world leaders to help stuck seafarers. This latest initiative spells out practical, concrete steps that all businesses can take to make sure their sea logistics address human rights flags, Engel said.

Engel said the tool kit should prompt some frank discussions with suppliers as well as encourage dialog around costs within the shipping industry, which is fragmented and often employs a network of ship owners, charterers and brokers.

Since the pandemic, some countries and their governments have either stopped or limited access for ships to conduct seafarer changes in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID. A Bloomberg investigation published in September found numerous violations of international maritime law designed to protect seafarers, including allegations of unpaid overtime and insufficient medical attention. There’s fear governments may again tighten restrictions as countries try to contain mutant virus strains.

The International Chamber of Shipping, the industry association that represents ship owners, is on board with the new initiative, said Secretary General Guy Platten. “The crew change crisis is far from over,” he said. The initiative also calls on companies to put pressure on governments to support the industry, which Platten says will help.

Some of those brands that have made the effort to dig into their supply chains have been surprised.

Fashion retailer TFG London conducted an investigation of its supply chain in 2020. It asked its shipping partners for a detailed map of the logistics network at sea and sought help from the seafarers’ union to undertake welfare checks on some of the ships carrying its cargo. The company found that five vessels didn’t have agreements with the union.

“We felt powerless to act as we didn’t have meaningful tools or leverage to respond to this crisis,” said Francesca Mangano, TFG London’s corporate social responsibility and sustainability executive. “This tool is set to drive change.” — Bloomberg

Pryce profits up 6% as higher sales offset expansion costs

PRYCE Corp. reported a net income growth of 6.08% to P423.22 million in the first quarter as higher sales of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products offset larger operating expenses.

“[The company] was able to achieve the above 6.08% increase in net income even with larger operating expenses due to its expansions of refilling plants and sales centers [across the country],” Pryce said in a disclosure on Thursday.

It is also building two more import-marine terminals in Visayas and Mindanao.

“These actions will bring much-needed employment, will further widen the scope and reach of PGI’s (Pryce Gases, Inc.) LPG business, and make its LPG products even more accessible to the consumers,” the company added.

Pryce said the new Republic Act No. 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives (CREATE) law, which reduced corporate income tax to 25% from 30%, also helped boost the company’s profits.

Revenues for the period amounted to P3.47 billion, 9.28% higher than the P3.18-billion topline in the first three months of 2020.

The company’s LPG segment accounted for 94.5% of consolidated revenues.

LPG gas sales volumes improved by 6.10% to 59,247 metric tons (MT) from 55,843 MT year on year.

“Revenue growth was likewise aided by a 9.52% increase in the average LPG contract price, from $526.83 per MT during last year’s first quarter to $577.00 per MT in the first quarter this year,” Pryce said.

The company, without disclosing specific figures, said earnings from its industrial gas products made up for 3.9% of its consolidated revenues, while its real estate and pharmaceuticals businesses accounted for 1.6%.

Pryce stocks at the local bourse climbed by 0.74% or four centavos to close at P5.44 apiece on Thursday. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Power of touch

Social distancing is a phrase we have been forced to accept and practice because of COVID-19. It is, per Merriam-Webster, the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection. Under this concept, handshaking is discouraged, with other less tactile forms of greeting observed. It is the no-touch policy that prohibits hugs, squeezes, and strokes we used to warm our daily interaction.

An interesting article at The Economist aptly titled, “You’ve lost that lovin’ feeling” discussed how the pandemic deprived the world of human contact. According to Tiffany Field of the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, touch is as necessary to human survival as food and water. It is the first sense to develop and the only one necessary for survival. We can live with the loss of sight or hearing. But without touch, which enables us to detect such stimuli as pressure, temperature and texture, we would be unable to walk or feel pain. Our skin is the vehicle through which we navigate the world.

Humans need touch to form close relationships. Alberto Gallace of the University of Milano-Bicocca says humans need to interact with each other and have developed a neurological system designed to respond to affectionate touch. Stimuli applied to skin at a certain pressure and speed (basically a caress) activates a dedicated nerve fiber in the skin. This stimulates parts of the brain responsible for pleasure, releasing hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin that sooth anxiety and makes humans feels happier.

Touch depresses levels of cortisol, a hormone produced in response to stress, triggering a flight or fight response. Touch also produces natural killer cells in patients with HIV and cancer. Healthy adults hugged more frequently are less likely to get colds and people who feel cared for are less likely to fall ill.

A lack of touch can be damaging. David Linden, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University wrote a book entitled Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart and Mind. He says that of the five senses, touch is the most overlooked and perhaps the most important for promoting psychological health. Touch has an extremely critical role in child development and if deprived, growth is slow, cognitive skills are delayed and aggression can be fueled. Interpersonal touch is a social glue that binds couples/partners, parents, and children, and makes people in communities and workplace effective teams.

Michael Kraus and Dacher Keltner of the University of California, Berkeley studied every team in the NBA in the first half of a season and reviewed all celebratory touches — exchanges among teammates, chest bumps, high fives, pats in the back, etc. They found out that teams that touched the most in the first half of the season win more games in the second half and play in a more cooperative fashion. Touch instills trust. Studies have shown that waitresses who touch customers get better tips and doctors who touch patients received more favorable review.

Filipinos are not well-known huggers, but we have a custom that is uniquely ours on the realm of touch — taking the elderly’s hand and placing it at the back of their forehead — the “pagmamano” and it’s not just the children. Of course, in recent times the “beso” has caught on together with the high fives among friends. Among relatives or friends of the same gender, it is common for Filipinos to walk hand in hand or arm in arm, as a sign of affection or friendship.

An interesting article by Michael Tan  years ago on “Body Ethics” discussed peculiar touching practices by Filipino women fondling genitals of children out of “gigil” or uncontrollable affection, for which a few of our countrymen have gotten into trouble as OFW’s. Other touching practices include rubbing bellies of pregnant women, adult males grabbing each other’s “baskets” out of mischief and woman to woman touching.  Even among Filipinos, some groups are more “touching” than others. People in Visayas are more prone to touch people than say, Tagalogs, as a way of greeting or conversing with each other. Although this article was more about unusual touching practices, it highlights how touch is important to the Filipino way of relating.

The pandemic has caused a lot of pain, most visible of which is the loss of jobs and income and the unfortunate recession we are all in. But one major negative effect is what The Economist termed as people becoming “skin hungry,” a state in which they experience less touch than they want. Being deprived of touch has been linked to loneliness, depression, stress, mood and anxiety disorders and secondary immune disorders.

Presently, we are experiencing a surge in infection. Anecdotally, this is partly attributed to a lot of family contagion as many are unable to resist skin hunger. Children touch parents who are infected and vice versa, despite all risks attendant to the act.

As Linden said, to be human is to be emotional and to feel things. For all of us, the sense of touch is intrinsically emotional. This pandemic is causing more emotional pain and deprivation other than monetary poverty. We need to get out of this very difficult situation as we look forward to the day we can touch each other again and express our feelings and affections the way we used to.

 

Benel Dela Paz Lagua was previously Executive Vice-President and Chief Development Officer at the Development Bank of the Philippines.  He is an active FINEX member and an advocate of risk-based lending for SMEs. The views expressed herein are his own and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX.

Stuff to Do (05/07/21)

Guitarras del mundo online concert

TO MARK the Quincentennial anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world, the Spanish Embassy has organized Guitarras del mundo (World Guitars), an online concert on May 7, 5 p.m., through the Facebook accounts of Embassy of Spain and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Guitarras del Mundo will be performed by guitarists Francisco Bernier and Antonio Duro of the Seville Guitar Duo, and Filipino classical guitarist Adrik Cristobal. The concert will start with music from Spain, with two Spanish composers, Granados and Rodrigo, then travel musically to the Americas with tunes by Milonga and Tango, then on to the Philippines where the journey ends with some kundiman.

2021 Korean Film Festival

THIS month, the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) will hold its signature film event, 2021 Korean Film Festival: Full House, Fun for All, with seven films. The festival will be available for viewing in the Philippines for free via the KCC’s official website http://phil.korean-culture.org/en  from May 7 to 27. Viewers also have the chance to win prizes by joining the 2021 KFF Online Film Reaction Essay Contest and the KFF Survey. Stay updated about KCC’s other events and activities through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KoreanCulturalCenterPH and on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube via KCCPhil.

Silverlens at Art Fair Philippines 2021

SILVERLENS joins the 9th edition of Art Fair Philippines online, ongoing until May 15, with eight capsule exhibitions curated by the gallery’s co-directors Isa Lorenzo and Rachel Rillo. View the gallery’s complete presentation through https://bit.ly/AFPatSLG. Visit the galley on site until May 10 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at 2263 Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati City. Book an appointment at https://calendly.com/silverlensgalleries/appointments?month=2021-05. For more information, contact info@silverlensgalleries.com or call 0917-587-4011.

Strange Fruit at Art Fair Philippines 2021

STRANGE Fruit is an artist collective composed of Jes Aznar, ESL Chen, Jason Quibilan, Veejay Villafranca, Francisco Guerrero, and Raena Abella that continuously explores the photographic medium to present images illustrating the socio-cultural landscape. View their exhibit until May 15 at https://artfairphilippines.com/gallery/strange-fruit/. It is possible to visit the physical gallery of their Art Fair Philippines 2021 showcase by appointment at the 3rd floor, Shutterspace Studios, 175 Citigold Plaza Brgy Bayanihan, Quezon City. For guest appointments, contact 09171271502, or e-mail gallery@strangefruitph.com. Call For more information, visit https://www.strangefruitph.com/.

Instituto Cervantes presents documentary series

THIS May, Instituto Cervantes de Manila is presenting the online film cycle “Zonazine,” a showcase of Spanish and Latin American documentaries. The films will be shown through the Instituto Cervantes channel on the Vimeo platform vimeo.com/institutocervantes and will be freely accessible for 48 hours from their start date and time. The series of four films will kick off on May 8, with the online screening of El cuarto reino (The Fourth Kingdom), available for 48 hours through the following link: https://vimeo.com/536445310. Directed by Adán Aliaga and Àlex Lora in 2019, this documentary portrays the daily life of a can collection and recycling center in a New York neighborhood, focusing on an illegal worker from Mexico, and the relationships he establishes with his peers. The film cycle will continue on May 15 with Para la guerra (Francisco Marise, 2018), about a Cuban ex-combatant, Mandarria, who is looking for the comrades who survived their last mission 30 years ago in Nicaragua during the Sandinista revolution. The film will be available only on May 15 & 16 through this link: https://vimeo.com/536463619. On May 22 and 23,  Baracoa (2019) by Argentinean filmmaker Pablo Briones will be shown. This documentary portrays the daily life of two children on the outskirts of Havana, and will be available through this link: https://vimeo.com/536453084. The series will close on May 29 and 30 with the Mexican documentary Una corriente salvaje (Nuria Ibáñez, 2018), a story of friendship and distrust between two fishermen who live isolated between the desert and the sea, in a nameless and apparently unpopulated place on the Mexican Pacific coast. Catch the movie at this link: https://vimeo.com/536452168. All the documentaries, presented by Instituto Cervantes in collaboration with the Malaga Film Festival and the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, will be in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is free. For further information check out Instituto Cervantes’ website https://cultura.cervantes.es/manila/en/zonazine-documental-en-español/142806 or its Facebook site www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.

PPO stages virtual performance on May 7

THE PHILIPPINE Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) stages its next performance in the series of online concerts billed as The PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances on May 7, 8 p.m., through the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Website. The program for the May 7 concert focuses on the Star Wars film universe, featuring pieces such as “The Mandalorian” by Ludwig Göransson orch. Jose Carlo Tuazon to be played the PPO; “Princess Leia’s Theme” by John Williams to be performed by Dino Akira Decena, Christian Tan, Jose Carlo Tuazon, and Berny Dulce Payte (violin), Joy Allan Dela Cruz and Rey Casey Concepcion (viola), Gerry Graham Gonzales (cello), and Ariston Payte III (double bass); “Cantina” Band by John Williams arr. Hernan Manalastas to be rendered by Glober Calambro and Edwin Matias (trumpet), Adolfo Mendoza (bassoon), Hernan Manalastas (clarinet), Arnel Jacinto (double bass), Jay-Ar Mesa (French horn), Ricson Poonin (trombone), Aimee Dela Cruz (mallets), Ederic Sampedro (drums), and Jascha Obieta Decena (piano); and the “Star Wars Medley” by John Williams arr. James H. Burden to be interpreted by the PPO. The PPO Online Pocket Performance Series, which runs from February to July, is a program of the PPO that can be viewed from the PPO FB page and the CCP YouTube as platforms.

Mother’s Day celebration at Ayala Malls

AYALA Malls are offering special shopping and dining experiences  for Mother’s Day. Shop for Mother’s Day gifts at marked down prices in Ayala Malls’ Off the Rack Fair. With categories ranging from appliances, fashion, and beauty brands including salon services, there are many options that customers can find for different kinds of moms. Moreover, outdoor dining is made more refreshing at the al fresco spaces stylized by partner local interior designers. Adding to the occasion is Ayala Malls’ Raffle and Instant Grat promo in partnership with BPI, which rewards patrons with prizes from Jewelmer and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. The Ayala Malls’ Off the Rack bazaar will be held in the Circuit and MarQuee Mall from May 1 to 9; Harbor Point from May 1 to 16; Fairview Terraces from May 7 to 9; as well as Glorietta, TriNoma, and Vertis North from May 7 to 16. The Philippine Fashion Coalition also returns with favorite local brands and designer pieces at the Alabang Town Center on May 7 to 9 and Glorietta on June 10 to 13. Fairview Terraces’ Off the Rack sale offers items from Western Appliances: washing machines, air conditioners, wall fans, HD TVs, subwoofers, and such that are up to 25% off from brands like Sharp, Panasonic, Samsung, Hanabishi, and more. Also check out more finds at True Value, which offers a variety of selections including kitchenware up to 50% off from Metro Home and Gibson. Other participating brands at the bazaar include Toys R Us, Optiview Clinic, Red Ribbon, Panapton, and Mhy Hype. Glorietta’s Off the Rack sale offers items up to 20-30% off from Dr. Martens, Birkenstock, Native Shoes, Chris Sports, and The North Face; vitamins and supplements from GNC Live Well which offers 25% off for two product purchases and 33% off from three product purchases. Other participating brands include Urbanize, Keds, Sperry, Rockport, Sneakpeak, Sunglass Haven, and Serenitea. Marquee Mall’s Off the Rack sale includes hair treatments like Keratin Treatments, Hair Color, and more from David’s Salon and Studio M Salon at 20% off; skincare items from Nature Republic including multiple mask sheets at 10 + 10 promo and matching hand creams at Buy 1 Take 1; and a celebratory meal at Blackbeard Seafood Island, which offers Filipino favorites at 18% off. Other participating brands at the bazaar include footwear and lifestyle concepts such as Bratpack, World Balance, Blued, Suki Shoes, Reva, and Manjaru. Alabang Town Center’s Philippine Fashion Coalition bazaar featuring apparel, bags, footwear, and accessories by Ann Casas Designs, Earl Gariando, Alchemista, Ai-she Fashion, Adante Leyesa, and Beatriz. For those who need more time finding the perfect item for mom because of busy schedules, shoppers can also buy belated gifts at Glorietta’s Philippine Fashion Coalition fair in June with more designers lined up for the event. Meanwhile, local interior designers were tapped to put together stylized open-air eating spaces through Dining by Design, an initiative to provide beautiful al fresco seating for dine-in customers of various restaurants in Ayala Malls. Launching on Mother’s Day, the design concept revolves around the beauty and healing attributes of nature. Partner restaurants include Bigoli, Pound, Outback Steakhouse, and Bar Pintxos. Patrons get a chance to win prizes from Jewelmer and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf when they shop at the participating Ayala Malls — Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Manila Bay, Glorietta, Greenbelt, and TriNoma. The Raffle is open to all Ayala Malls shoppers. For every P1,000 single or accumulated receipt dated from May 1 to 31 at any Ayala Malls store, patrons are qualified to join the raffle. One raffle winner will be drawn per participating mall. Transactions made through BPI entitle customers to more entries.

Mother’s Day at Ortigas Malls

ORTIGAS Malls has made it easier to make this year’s Mother’s Day celebrations extra special with a number of special treats. Take her out for a special meal al fresco style at any Ortigas Malls or order food and have it delivered from the restaurants through My Home Dashers — just call, text, or Viber 0917-815-6640 for Greenhills or 0917-851-9262 for Tiendesitas and Estancia. There will be a Home Styling workshop offered by Ortigas Malls on May 9. 2 p.m., via Facebook page, with stylist Zenas Pineda offering valuable tips. Give Mom a pamper package, and pick up a special gift for her when you accumulate P2,000 worth of receipts from any Ortigas Malls on May 9. Because music is the balm of the soul, Ortigas Malls is holding a special Serenade for Moms on May 9, 11 a.m. via its Facebook page. Visit the photo nooks located at Greenhills, Tiendesitas, and Estancia from May 4 to 9 and take that IG-worthy photo to share online.

Applying psychology to people management

I’m an engineer tasked with performing the Human Resources (HR) function for our small company. Obviously, I have no technical background to perform my current assignment. The HR departments of our client-companies are headed by people with psychology, business management, accounting, and law degrees. I’m getting cold feet knowing this, though I try to do my best, except that I can’t understand how psychology can be applied to managing people. Could you please give me some examples? — Round Peg.

Psychiatrists say that in the process of thinking, blood is drawn from the feet to the brain, suggesting that this may explain why, when we think very long and hard about something, we get cold feet. Some people like you may quibble about doing something that is not in line with your training. There’s nothing wrong with that.

As long as you have the interest to learn, unlearn, and relearn, you can go a long way in understanding and even excelling in your work as HR head. It’s only a matter of time. That is if you would like to continue doing that job.

One of the best approaches to running an HR department is to read as much as you can about general management. You don’t have to limit yourself to HR topics. If you’ve taken management engineering or similar courses, then I believe that is a good starting point.

SEVEN EXAMPLES
I will not confuse you with psychological terms to avoid intimidating you. I’m not a psychologist either, but I’d rather be practical than theoretical. Not only will this better prepare us for learning, but it may also help you to pinpoint areas where you want to improve your performance as an HR department head. You can explore the following uses of psychology in managing people:

One, promote and practice employee empowerment. When your workers come to you about an operational issue, tell them you know the solution (even if you don’t), because you don’t want to spoon-feed them. Ask for their top three recommendations in order of priority. That way, you’ll teach them how to analyze problems. You may be surprised to find your expectations exceeded while also identifying which workers can be relied upon.

Two, admit you don’t know many things. When you accept a weakness, people will understand and respect you for your humility. If a worker comes to you to challenge the rationale and practical application of a long-held management policy, accept that you don’t have a ready answer. Then, promise to review the contested policy, validate your conclusions, and with the consent of top management give the answer to the inquirer.

Three, be energetic and happy in talking to workers. If you do this habitually, your workers will view you as an approachable and positive person, instead of the corporate police. When you’ve established rapport and are conscious of your body language, it should be easy for you to establish two-way communication, which is essential in uncovering potential issues.

Four, ask for assistance from your timid workers. Such an approach will help you build their self-confidence. That way, people will feel valued. It’s a good way for you to fatten your emotional bank account with them. Ask for help even when you don’t need it. It’s also an excellent way to manifest your trust and break the ice with difficult personalities. It may be difficult at first, but it’s not exactly impossible.

Five, acknowledge a person for admitting his mistake. When a worker comes to you volunteering information about a blunder he made, say something like this: “Thank you for your admission. It’s a sign that you can be trusted and are willing to correct your errors.” Such a reply is better than saying “it’s OK” when deep in your heart and mind that it really is not. Your style will also encourage people to take calculated risks, instead of being reluctant to explore other things.

Six, encourage people to challenge your ideas. When giving out instructions, don’t just solicit questions. Instead, ask them if they have a better solution than the one you’re presenting. Or else, ask the workers about any potential problems they foresee. Some workers may feel uncomfortable giving an opposing view but others may take it as an opportunity to shine. Whatever they do, they will accept you as an effective HR leader.

Last, allow people to choose their work assignments. Give everyone many options suited to their capacity, style, taste, and timeline. Say something like this: “Here’s Easy Task A with a tight two-day deadline and Difficult Task B with a one-week deadline. Feel free to choose which one, then let me know.” They will feel in control; in reality, they don’t have much choice because you’ve limited their options.

PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT
People management is an act of kindness with an expiration date. You need to practice kindness to everyone until such time that they’ve shown they are not deserving of it. Every step of the way, as an HR specialist, you should be the first to create and maintain a work environment in which everyone respects everyone else. You can’t go wrong with this basic premise.

One good example of this is Toyota’s “Respect for People” mantra which is founded on the basic belief that they have to “build good people first, before we build good cars.” Even without Toyota in mind, you can readily understand this by allowing the workers to share their ideas, suggestions, even complaints to management as a matter of routine.

If you really want to succeed as an HR professional even with your engineering degree, one of the basic tools that you need to practice is active listening. It is an imperative element of participative management that eliminates the traditional one-sided flow of direction from top to bottom in some organizations. Indeed, you can’t have proactive, two-way communication unless you become an expert in active listening to people at all levels.

 

Have a consulting chat with Rey Elbo on Facebook, Linked, or Twitter or you can send anonymous questions to elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.consulting

1...7,6367,6377,638...13,750Page 7,637 of 13,750
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube