MANILA – Philippine senators on Tuesday voted to return an impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to the lower house to clarify its constitutionality, in a surprise move just hours after convening a trial that could end her political career.
After heated debates among members that included efforts by a Duterte ally to dismiss the case, the senators agreed not to terminate the trial, but first send it back to the lower house to certify that its handling of the process had been lawful.
The impeachment of the daughter of firebrand former President Rodrigo Duterte follows an acrimonious falling out last year with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with whom she ran on a joint ticket that won the 2022 election in a landslide.
The Senate’s late-night move could provide a lifebuoy for presidential contender Duterte in her make-or-break trial and impact the policy agenda and succession plans of former ally Marcos.
Marcos is limited to a single term in office and has created a powerful enemy in Duterte. He is expected to try to retain influence and protect his legacy by grooming a successor capable of fending off his rival in the next election should she be acquitted.
“I think we have upheld our oath to be politically neutral,” said Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a Duterte loyalist who presented the motion to return the case to the House of Representatives.
The lower house in February voted to impeach the vice president for high crimes and betrayal of the public trust, alleging budget irregularities, amassing of unusual wealth and a threat to the lives of Marcos, his wife, and the house speaker. She has denied all allegations.
FIERCE DEBATE
The unprecedented move by the Senate could add fuel to fierce public debate on what is already an emotionally charged issue in the Philippines, with the specter of discord in the bicameral legislature and more legal action to try to dismiss the case against the popular Duterte.
The trial will officially proceed, according to senators, who issued a summons to Duterte to respond to the charges, despite sending the case back to the lower house until a time when a Congress newly-formed after last month’s midterm elections is “willing and ready” to pursue the impeachment complaint.
Duterte will have 10 days to comply. A new Congress will convene at the end of July.
Duterte’s office late on Tuesday reiterated an earlier statement that said she was ready to “expose the baselessness of the accusations”.
“The impeachment process must never be weaponized to harass, silence, or eliminate political opponents,” it said.
The president’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Senate’s move. Marcos has distanced himself from the impeachment, even though it was launched by his legislative allies.
Duterte is the fifth top official in the Philippines to be impeached, only one of whom, Renato Corona, a former Supreme Court chief justice, was convicted.
The trial of former President Joseph Estrada was aborted in 2001 after some prosecutors walked out, while an election commission chief and an ombudsman both resigned following their impeachments.
Both the vice president and a group of pro-Duterte lawyers have separately petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the impeachment complaint.
Makabayan, a minority bloc of left-wing lawmakers, said the senators had abdicated their constitutional duty in a “legally baseless” decision.
“This brazen move represents a dangerous departure from constitutional procedure and sets a perilous precedent that undermines impeachment as a means for exacting accountability from the highest officials,” it said. — Reuters
NET INFLOWS of foreign direct investments (FDI) fell to a three-month low in March, with first-quarter inflows also dropping by more than 40% year on year, amid heightened global uncertainty arising from the US tariff policies.
Preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that FDI net inflows declined by 27.8% to $498 million in March from $689 million in the same month a year ago.
This was the lowest FDI level in three months or since the $110-million inflow posted in December.
“The said decline resulted from lower net inflows across all major FDI components,” the BSP said.
Nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments of local affiliates plunged by 31.6% to $329 million in March from $481 million in the same month in 2024.
Nonresidents’ net investments in equity capital, other than the reinvestment of earnings, declined by 27.4% to $102 million from $141 million year on year.
This came as equity capital placements dropped by 5.5% to $148 million. On the other hand, withdrawals nearly tripled (185.1%) to $46 million.
Equity placements in March mostly came from Singapore (25%), Japan (24%) and the United States (20%), as well as South Korea (9%) and Malaysia (5%).
“These were infused largely to the real estate; manufacturing; financial and insurance; and administrative and support services industries,” the central bank said.
Reinvestment of earnings dipped by 1.2% to $66 million in March from $67 million a year ago.
Investments in equity and investment fund shares fell by 19% to $168 million in March from $208 million a year earlier.
FIRST-QUARTER SLIDE
In the first quarter, FDI net inflows plunged by 41.1% to $1.76 billion from $2.99 billion in the comparable year-ago period.
Net investments in debt instruments dropped by 35.3% to $1.2 billion in the period ending March from $1.85 billion a year ago.
Investments in equity capital other than the reinvestment of earnings plummeted by 66.7% to $298 million in the January-March period from $894 million in the previous year.
Equity placements declined by 64.4% year on year to $397 million while withdrawals fell by 54.8% to $99 million.
These placements were mainly from Japan (42%), followed by the United States (17%), Singapore (14%), and Malaysia and Singapore (both at 6% each).
Nearly half (47%) of these were invested in the manufacturing sector, followed by real estate (22%) and the financial and insurance (13%) sectors.
On the other hand, nonresidents’ reinvestment of earnings rose by 8.8% to $264 million from $242 million.
“The decline in FDI is among the different indicators, along with increasing debt and rising unemployment, that show the gradually decreasing economic growth in the country,” Leonardo A. Lanzona, an economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said.
In the first quarter, the Philippine economy grew by a weaker-than-anticipated 5.4%, well below the government’s 6-8% target for the year.
Gross capital formation, the investment component of the economy, grew by 4% in the first quarter, slowing from the 5.5% seen in the fourth quarter.
“The truth of the matter is the country’s growth is only dependent on its remittances and consumption. Hence, if global conditions remain poor, we will not be expecting FDIs to come in,” Mr. Lanzona added.
John Paolo R. Rivera, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said the drop in FDI is due to a combination of global and domestic headwinds.
“Externally, rising geopolitical tensions, high interest rates in developed markets, and global trade uncertainties especially from US tariff actions continue to dampen cross-border investments,” he said.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort noted the US government’s tariff policies have led investors to adopt a wait-and-see stance on investments.
US President Donald J. Trump had started making tariff threats since he assumed office in late January. However, it was only in early April that he announced a baseline 10% tariff on all its trading partners, as well as higher reciprocal tariffs on most of its trading partners. The so-called reciprocal tariffs are suspended until July.
Domestically, Mr. Rivera said investors were likely more cautious in the first quarter and are now awaiting more clarity on “policy direction, post-election stability, and economic strategy execution in medium to long term.”
“Internally, the Philippines is contending with political noise, investor concerns over regulatory predictability, and slow progress in structural reforms that are necessary to boost long-term investor confidence.”
For the coming months, Mr. Ricafort said the full implementation of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy Act could entice investors.
“Some foreign investors could have also waited for Fed and BSP rates to go down further before becoming more aggressive to finance more FDIs,” he added.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. has signaled further easing this year, possibly through two more 25-basis-point (bp) rate cuts. He said a rate cut is also still on the table at the Monetary Board’s policy review on June 19.
The BSP’s FDI data differ from the investment data of other government sources as they cover actual investment flows, it said.
The approved foreign investments data published by the Philippine Statistics Authority are sourced from investment promotion agencies and represent investment commitments that may not be fully realized in a given period. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter
THE GROWTH of the Philippine information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry this year is expected to outpace the global average in terms of job generation and export revenues, an industry group said.
“We have grown to 1.82 million in 2024 and will hit 1.9 million by the end of 2025. So, we are closing in on the 2-million mark. What we will also hit in 2025 is $40 billion in export revenue,” IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan R. Madrid said at a press briefing late on Monday.
“That is a growth of 5% over last year and 4% in jobs over the previous year. Growth is always good news but considering that the global growth of our industry only grew 3%, it shows that yet again the Philippines is leading the growth of the industry,” he added.
These numbers, he said, are the recalibrated targets for the year but are below the industry’s aggressive targets under the IT-BPM Industry Roadmap 2028.
“We are exceeding our baseline targets, but we are slightly below our aggressive targets,” Mr. Madrid said.
When setting the targets, he said that the industry considers the changing work types, availability of talent, and ease of doing business.
“This industry is no longer about cost optimization. It is about the availability of the talent, ease of doing business, and balancing where you give the work. Because investors cannot put all their work in one place, there has to be diversification,” he said.
“So, being such a leader, together with India, the issue of overconcentration has become a topic, and so we really need to address those other issues so that we can maintain our market share,” he added.
According to IBPAP officials, the industry continues to face challenges at the local government unit (LGU) level despite the implementation of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
“With the passage of CREATE MORE, we hope that problems with LGUs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue will have been addressed,” said IBPAP Chief Operating Officer Celeste B. Ilagan.
“But we see that even with the issuance of the IRR, some of our members still encounter problems with certain LGUs. And it really revolves around how the LGUs interpret the provisions of CREATE MORE in terms of incentives that enterprises are entitled to,” she added.
To resolve this, she said that the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Finance, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government are planning to issue a joint memorandum circular (JMC) that will specify how the LGUs should interpret CREATE MORE.
“We have seen a draft of that JMC that has done the rounds of consultation. We know that there’s one more consultation in the province before they are able to pass that JMC,” she said.
“That will specify what the LGUs should follow in terms of imposing fees and charges, what requirements there are for business permits, all of that,” she added.
Ms. Ilagan said these challenges are being experienced by existing enterprises, as new investors are still checking out which cities they should set up shop.
Meanwhile, Mr. Madrid said there are opportunities for growth in global capability centers (GCC).
“I am happy to say that every week our office is visited by locators and investors who want to expand their footprint in the Philippines and are considering setting up operations in the Philippines,” he said.
“Much of the growth and interest comes from GCC; these are companies like JPMorgan and HSBC. I think this is a sector that we need to focus on because these tend to offer higher value-added jobs,” he added.
For instance, Mr. Madrid noted that India has seen an increase of 100 GCCs per annum, with its entire GCC industry already as big as the entire Philippine IT-BPM industry.
“I think we should really emphasize and focus on growing GCCs. As it is, we only have 150 GCCs in the country. I think the potential is much more,” he said.
“I think there is an opportunity to grow our presence in the GCCs. And I think this is important because the revenue per employee in GCC is much higher than the broader industry,” he added.
To date, the industry has 250,000 employees in GCCs led by banking and financial, insurance, and healthcare services. The GCCs accounted for $8 billion, or 20% of the total industry revenues last year.
Also, Mr. Madrid said that there has been a rise in employment in the countryside mostly because cities in the provinces do not have the same kind of public commuting issues faced by workers in Metro Manila.
“The countryside is a bright spot for the industry. Before COVID, we were only 25% outside Metro Manila. Today, we are at 32% of a bigger base,” he said.
“And according to our roadmap projections, we see that growing to 40% by 2028. Congestion in Metro Manila is an issue, so the countryside helps to decongest that,” he added.
However, he said that revenues are still higher in Metro Manila, as most of the GCCs are located in Metro Manila and Cebu.
By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter
FRANCISCO ED. LIM, the new chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is hoping to encourage Philippine government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCC) to list on the stock exchange to spur investor activity.
“It is being done in Vietnam, their state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are listing. Let’s take a look at them (SOEs) and see which are listable,” Mr. Lim said during a media briefing after officially taking the helm on the SEC on Tuesday.
There are no GOCCs, also known as SOEs, listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
Mr. Lim, who also served as PSE president from 2004 to 2010, said he will also look into the implementation of laws that require the public listing of companies availing of government incentives.
“There are laws that require companies, who avail of incentives, to go public. That’s not being fully implemented. We give you incentives, but you should share your blessings with the public. Unfortunately, that has not been done,” he said.
In its Capital Market Review of the Philippines last year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said there are many Philippine SOEs that are candidates for public listing such as Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines.
The OECD also said the Philippines could grow its capital markets by listing the minority stakes of financially significant SOEs.
SOEs occupy a significant share of market capitalization in other ASEAN countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Sought for comment, AP Securities, Inc. Research Head Alfred Benjamin R. Garcia said that the proposal to push the public listing of SOEs is a viable option to boost the market.
“It’s a welcome move to increase market depth. And it will provide other sources of funding for GOCCs other than taxpayer money,” he said in a Viber message.
China Bank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet said there should be efforts to push the listing of “high quality” GOCC on the stock exchange.
“That would help boost our equity market and provide an alternative avenue for government fundraising. To be a viable IPO (initial public offering) candidate, a GOCC should have strong financials and prospects as well as a professional, business-oriented culture,” he said.
CHANGES?
Meanwhile, Mr. Lim plans to form task groups composed of the SEC, the PSE, and the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. to determine what needs to be done to boost the capital market.
“The task groups will tell us what needs to be done, how to amend the rules, how to streamline, and so on and so forth. Simple but easy to enforce or implement,” he said.
“It’s no secret that while we are one of the oldest exchanges, our market still lags behind. It’s ensuring that the investing public will trust their money with our market,” he added.
Mr. Lim also plans to resolve all the pending applications and deliverables of the SEC.
“The law sets clear timeframes. While we recognize the complexity of our work, we must uphold the standards,” he added.
Mr. Lim will also focus on implementing current initiatives rather than push for more reforms, adding that the SEC will further streamline its processes and requirements.
“We have all the laws. We have amendments to the Real Estate Investment Trust Act… There are also amendments about the Personal Equity and Retirement Account Act. It’s just a matter of pushing them harder and harder. It’s more execution and implementation than more reforms,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lim also said he will explore reductions in the SEC’s fees to help micro, small and medium enterprises.
“Regulation must support, not suffocate,” he said.
Asked about the previously allowed lower initial public float for some IPOs, Mr. Lim said the market should be allowed to decide.
The SEC previously allowed an initial public float of 15% for some companies seeking to go public through exemptive relief.
“If an issue is attractive, it is not a problem,” he said.
By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter
THE TRAVEL and tourism sector is expected to contribute P5.9 trillion to the Philippine economy this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
“This new record would represent more than one-fifth (21%) of national gross domestic product (GDP), cementing travel and tourism’s place as a backbone of the Philippine economy,” the WTTC said in a statement, citing its 2025 Economic Impact Research report.
Economic managers are targeting 6-8% GDP growth this year until 2028.
The WTTC also projected the travel and tourism sector to employ 11.7 million by yearend, accounting for 23.8% of all jobs in the Philippines.
Last year, the travel and tourism sector contributed P5.3 trillion to the country’s GDP and accounted for 11.2 million jobs.
If the projections are realized, it will represent an 11.3% and 4.5% increase in GDP contribution and employment, respectively, from last year.
The WTTC said that the travel and tourism sector’s contribution for this year would be 13.5% higher than the 2019 level or before the pandemic.
“International visitor spending is also on the rise, projected to reach P709.2 billion — up 2.1% on the previous high in 2019, while domestic visitor spending is anticipated to reach P4.1 trillion — a 9.3% increase over its previous peak,” the WTTC said.
Last year, spending by domestic visitors stood at P3.6 trillion, while spending of international visitors hit P644.8 billion.
If the WTTC’s spending projections are realized, these will represent an almost 10% increase in international spending and a 13.9% increase in domestic spending.
“The Philippines is a standout example of how travel and tourism, when supported by a clear, long-term vision, can deliver real economic impact and long-term opportunity,” said WTTC President and Chief Executive Officer Julia Simpson.
“This success speaks to the country’s extraordinary appeal, its policy focus on tourism as a growth engine, and the energy of its people and private sector,” she added.
By 2035, the WTTC expects the travel and tourism sector to contribute P9.2 trillion to the Philippine economy, representing 19.8% of GDP.
It also expects the creation of 2.5 million jobs, which will bring total sector employment to 14.1 million.
“As the country continues to strengthen air connectivity, invest in infrastructure, and prioritize destination resilience, travel and tourism are positioned not just to grow but to transform the national economy,” said the global tourism body.
“WTTC calls on policymakers to continue fostering this trajectory with clear regulation, long-term investment in workforce development, and sustained global promotion of the Philippines as a world-class destination,” it added.
Sought for comment, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said that tourism is a “low-hanging fruit” for the Philippines.
“The Philippines is yet to fully catch up with other Asian or Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries that have three to five times more foreign tourism, so this could be a major source of economic growth,” said Mr. Ricafort in a Viber message.
He said that the tourism sector has the potential to create more jobs, generate more investments, and spur business activity.
“This could be made possible with further development of the country’s infrastructure, especially airports, seaports, mass transport systems, and accommodation facilities,” he added.
Colliers Research Director Joey Roi H. Bondoc said it would be a challenge to reach the tourism targets this year.
“The 2024 figures are down compared to the target of the government, and that was even before the South Korean economic crisis. But now that you no longer have the Chinese tourists, and then the Korean figures are down, so it will be extra challenging,” he said in a phone interview.
Data from the Department of Tourism showed that the Philippines booked 5.95 million visitor arrivals last year, missing the agency’s target of 7.7 million.
However, Mr. Bondoc said that the DoT’s initiatives are in the right direction but need to be complemented with initiatives that will address infrastructure, peace and order, and affordability, among others.
“I think they’re doing the right thing; attracting Indians and implementing visa-upon-arrival or visa-free access to the Philippines are steps in the right direction, but it needs to be complemented,” he said.
IT’S HARD not to associate the works of National Artist for Visual Arts Arturo Luz (1926-2021) with grandeur, but an exhibit called Streamlined II at the Renaissance Art Gallery in SM Megamall shows more intimacy from the late artist.
Mr. Luz is best known for his grand works displayed in the grandest venues and offices in the land, but this selling exhibit — which is ongoing until June 16 — features the private collection of Edd and Malou Gaerlan.
Mr. Gaerlan befriended Mr. Luz in the 1970s, and they formed a close bond, so much so that Mr. Luz and his wife stood as principal sponsors for the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary.
The exhibit features 62 pieces. While there are some sketches and drawings of Mr. Luz’s work in the 1960s, the collection largely consists of his work from the 1990s to the early 2000s. According to Renaissance Art Gallery’s Managing Owner, Manuel Romero, Jr., in an interview during the exhibit’s June 3 opening, these consist of what the National Artist captured during his travels around Southeast Asia during that period.
“An idea of what he thinks about the place,” is how Mr. Romero put it.
In a guide published by the gallery, Mr. Luz is quoted as saying, “These architectural paintings, which I call ‘Cities of the Past,’ are imaginary landscapes, recreations of my Asian pilgrimages. They share a common element: They are not literal but rather composite images formed from memory. They are imagined, transformed, and invented. They don’t originate directly from a single source.”
Writer and artist Cid Reyes, who curated the exhibit, has over 20 hours worth of interviews with the late Mr. Luz. Of the exhibit’s title Streamlined II (they had an exhibit called Streamlined last year), he said, “It is the one single word that touches on the essence of an Arturo Luz painting.”
“The work of Mr. Luz is so devoid or stripped of all ornamentation and excessive decoration, which is the penchant of many Filipino artists — because that is our sensibility. Because the art of Luz has been so stripped bare, it can connect to any period,” he said.
The works on view range in price from about P280,000 to P8.9 million. While the answer is obvious as to why the work of a National Artist can command such a price, Mr. Reyes notes that not everyone is drawn to his art. “The works of Mr. Luz remain a mystery. Unlike the works of Manansala, Amorsolo, that are all emotionally accessible to the Filipino audience, the work of Mr. Luz are still in that limbo of appreciation. It takes a particular sensibility to appreciate his works.”
For Mr. Romero, Mr. Luz’s work still creates buzz because previous collectors of Mr. Luz’s works have largely kept their collections private. “Nothing much has come out in the market. You can only see them, buy them, in the auction houses. Now, we’re trying to present that we still have a lot. Maybe it’s his time.”
Renaissance Art Gallery is located at The Artwalk, on the 4th floor of Building A of SM Megamall at the Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. — Joseph L. Garcia
IN A CASE of perfect timing, Dalaga na si Maxie Oliveros: A Drag Musical Extravaganza, which combines the art of drag and musical theater, will be staged during Pride Month.
A sequel to the hit 2013 production Maxie the Musical, which in turn was based on the 2005 film Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, it follows the titular Maxie who is on the verge of adulthood as she discovers the dazzling world of drag.
Presented by J+Productions and line produced by PETA Plus, this newest piece of Filipino queer pop culture will run from June 13 to 22 at Illumination Studio in Makati City.
The show features newcomer Jamila Rivera, a fresh talent hailing from Naga City, Camarines Sur, as she takes on the role of an older Maxie Oliveros, one who is ready to reclaim her story. It is set five years after the original musical and film, with the young beauty queen aspirant turning to the world of drag to fully embrace her identity.
For director Melvin Lee, the production’s hybrid identity as part-musical, part-drag revue is a challenge since it will combine live singing, lip sync performances, and video projection.
Conceptualized in February, the show will have three original songs by musical director and arranger JJ Pimpinio, with the rest being covers as is usual with the art of drag. Most importantly, it is set in 2018, during the height of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s war on drugs.
“We won’t just look at the facade and the fabulosity of drag. I want the audience to see the human side of the performers, to go beyond the facade, the fabulosity, to see a person behind it,” Mr. Lee told the media at a June 5 press conference.
He co-wrote the script with writers Julia Icawat Enriquez and Mikaundre Gozum Santos.
“Every performance that the drag queens do is their expression and their statement to whatever context they are in,” he added. The original musical and film depict teenage Maxie’s trauma after falling in love with a police officer who later guns down her father.
Dalaga na si Maxie Oliveros: A Drag Musical Extravaganza will see Maxie go on “a new journey in the drag community, where she will find a new family and a support system,” Mr. Lee explained.
For Ms. Rivera, who was handpicked after rigorous auditions, it is an honor to bring the beloved queer icon’s story to life.
“It’s actually a very big responsibility, but I am really happy to have a solid team who will help me,” she told the press. “Gusto namin maihatid ’yung kuwento ni Maxie, mabigyan ito ng hustisya, at maipagpatuloy at mas mapabongga ’yung buhay niya (We want to convey Maxie’s story, give it justice, and continue and even improve on the life she has).”
A newcomer, Ms. Rivera said that the originator of the role back in 2013, drag queen Maxie Andreison, served as her inspiration to pursue drag and the coveted role itself. (Ms. Andreison recently won season two of Drag Race Philippines.)
“In the show, the Maxie character is new in this world, and she is just introduced in the drag scene, which I can relate to,” Ms. Rivera added.
Joining Jamila in the cast are some of the country’s top drag performers: Zymba Ding, Corazon, Mrs. Tan, and Winter Sheason Nicole. The production also features theater actors Jem Manicad, Gerhard Krystoppher, and Gabriel Villaruel.
Dalaga na si Maxie Oliveros: A Drag Musical Extravaganza runs from June 13 to 22 at Illumination Studio, 2723 Sabio St. corner Chino Roces Ave., Makati City. Tickets, costing P2,500, are now available via https://ticket2me.net/dalaga-na-si-Maxie. — Brontë H. Lacsamana
FOR Filipino visual artist Lee Paje and Thai photographer Ampannee Satoh, looking to the past is an essential part of understanding one’s identity.
The former uses installations and sculptures to reflect on historical narratives that have shaped Filipino queerness, while the latter channels in photographs the lasting effects of political unrest across time and borders from the perspective of a Thai Muslim woman.
At the Vargas Museum in the University of the Philippines Diliman, their takes on inherited realities hang on the walls and from the ceiling, tracing identities inextricably linked to the past. Ms. Paje’s exhibition is titled Beyond the Edge, Embodied Horizons while Ms. Satoh’s is called Ports of Refuge.
“While completely different from each other, their respective artistic practices have a shared sense of exploration. It’s also a coincidence that both Lee and Ampannee are showing works from their residencies,” said Tessa Maria Guazon, Vargas Museum curator, at a walkthrough of the two exhibitions.
HISTORIES UNBOUND
Ms. Paje’s main installation, Unbound, is a large-scale piece that incorporates painting, printmaking, and sculpture. It was made using historical archival text from the Doctrina Christiana, repeatedly printed on a Leporello book and then painted over and cut out to form a three-dimensional work.
It was made during the artist’s Pazifik-Leipzig residency in Leipzig, Germany, where she got an opportunity to reflect on the printing press.
“The first printed book here in the Philippines is the Doctrina Christiana. I looked at a historical archive online for a digital copy of the book. On the first page, instead of prayers and sacraments, I saw the Spanish alphabet,” Ms. Paje explained.
This first page then became the printing matrix or visual motif that was printed over and over on the pages.
“It struck me because it reflects how colonialism penetrated this country, how the ways we were colonized inculcated in us the knowledge, worldviews, and power structures that are in place up to now. It has residue in how we view things like gender and identity,” she added.
In altering the form of a book, her work aims to “create possible realities not bound by the text,” she told BusinessWorld.
At the exhibit’s opening in May, a body, sound, and movement performance was held, featuring dancers Deborah Lemuel, Serena Magiliw, Opaline Santos, and Jasper Villasis. The performance had them dance and interact with the paper installation work. “My art also talks about the colonized body, being defined by others outside of ourselves, so it made sense to me to have bodies here perform and interpret that,” Ms. Paje said.
POINTS OF CONFLUENCE
Co-presented with Shutter Space Studios and Silver Fine Art Prints, Ms. Satoh’s exhibit of monochrome photographs is a sobering look at two different places with once-thriving ports of trade — the artist’s hometown of Pattani in the majority Muslim provinces of Southern Thailand, and Port de La Rochelle on the southwest coast of France.
A recurring motif in many of the photographs is a Muslim woman in a hijab, taken from behind as she faces the horizon. Similar to the case in the Philippines where Christians outnumber Muslims even in Mindanao which is home to 95% of Filipino Muslims, Muslims in Southern Thailand are a minority compared to the Buddhist majority. Both Mindanao and Southern Thailand have had problems with Muslim insurgencies.
“The photographs reflect the political state of our community, and how it affects the women,” Ms. Satoh explained. She then draws parallels with Muslims in France, who are restricted by a controversial regulation that bans wearing burkas in public places.
While little remains of the historical port of Pattani and of the old towers marking the La Rochelle slave-trade port, the artist draws from the rich, vastly different histories of both places. The photos were taken during her artist residency at Centre Intermondes in La Rochelle.
“I look back in the past and feel like I know myself better. I do that to try to see something, and when I did, I felt like I learned more,” Ms. Satoh told BusinessWorld.
The sole video in her exhibition shows a fisherman on a boat on the shores of Pattani Bay, saying his prayers.
Lee Paje’s Beyond the Edge, Embodied Horizons and Ampannee Satoh’s Ports of Refuge run until June 18 at the Vargas Museum, Roxas Ave., UP Diliman, Quezon City.
The museum has admission fees of P20 for students, P40 for seniors, PWDs, and UP staff, faculty, and alumni, and P50 for non-UP visitors. — Brontë H. Lacsamana
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has issued notices of award to seven bidders in the third round of the green energy auction (GEA-3), subject to acceptance and compliance with post-auction requirements, with awarded projects expected to deliver over 6,600 megawatts (MW) of capacity.
According to the DoE’s published notice, 12 projects were awarded, comprising 300 MW of impounding hydro, 6,350 MW of pumped-storage hydro, and 30.887 MW of geothermal capacity.
The notice includes the offered capacities and green energy tariffs recommended by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
Among the winning bidders are subsidiaries of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP), Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (Prime Infra), and First Gen Corp.
Pan Pacific Renewable Power Phils. Corp. secured the largest capacity at 2,300 MW, including 300 MW from two impounding hydro projects with ERC-recommended rates ranging from P4.50 to P4.75 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), and a 2,000-MW pumped-storage hydro project at P3.50 per kWh.
SMGP’s San Roque Hydropower, Inc. won contracts for three pumped-storage hydro projects totaling 1,850 MW, with tariffs ranging from P3.25 to P3.7319 per kWh.
Prime Infra’s Ahunan Power, Inc. was awarded a 1,400-MW pumped-storage hydro project at P5.4597 per kWh, while Olympia Violago Water and Power, Inc. secured a 600-MW project at P5.3561 per kWh.
Coheco Badeo Corp. also emerged as the winning bidder for a 500-MW pumped-storage hydro project at P2.5787 per kWh.
For geothermal, First Gen’s Energy Development Corp. (EDC) secured contracts for two projects totaling 9.314 MW, with rates ranging from P5.1092 to P7.6441 per kWh.
EDC’s subsidiary Bac-Man Geothermal, Inc. was awarded a 21.573-MW project at P7.6441 per kWh.
The committed capacities are scheduled for installation between 2028 and 2035.
Bidders must confirm acceptance and submit post-auction documents within 15 calendar days.
Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the bid bond, the DoE said.
In a statement, the DoE said the awards followed “a comprehensive multi-agency evaluation process.”
“This latest round under GEA-3 marks another significant milestone in the Philippine government’s effort to accelerate renewable energy development, enhance grid reliability, and meet long-term clean energy goals,” the agency said.
Two additional auctions are scheduled this year, focusing on integrated renewable energy and energy storage systems, as well as offshore wind power. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter
DITO CME Holdings Corp. announced its plan to raise up to P26.53 billion by yearend to ramp up the operations of its telecommunications unit DITO Telecommunity Corp.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday, DITO CME said it plans to convert the existing shareholder advances of Udenna Corp. and China Telecommunications Corp. in DITO Telecommunity into equity.
“This approach could help the company mitigate immediate liquidity pressures and facilitate its ongoing network expansion. By leveraging equity instead of accruing more debt, DITO could reduce its interest burden and improve financial sustainability,” Globalinks Securities and Stocks, Inc. Head of Sales Trading Toby Allan C. Arce said in a Viber message.
However, this strategy comes with potential downside, Mr. Arce said, adding that share conversion might dilute existing shareholders’ equity, which could erode investor confidence and market valuation in the short term.
DITO CME also said it is targeting to raise an additional P28.83 billion over the next five years through private placements.
As of end-2023, the company had raised P1.59 billion through private placements made by third-party investors such as Xterra Ventures Pte. Ltd., Summit Telco Corp. Pte. Ltd., and Summit Telco Holdings Corp.
To recall, in 2024, DITO CME’s board of directors approved a potential investment from Summit Telco Corp. Pte. Ltd.
“The success of this plan hinges on DITO’s ability to convert these funds into tangible growth — expanding its user base and enhancing its service offerings to compete effectively in a highly saturated telecommunications market dominated by incumbents like Globe and PLDT,” Mr. Arce said.
For the first quarter, DITO CME Holdings, operator of DITO Telecommunity, reduced its attributable net loss to P1.66 billion from P4.11 billion a year earlier.
According to the company’s regulatory filing, DITO CME incurred a total comprehensive loss of P41 billion in 2024, resulting in a capital deficiency of P73.39 billion as of December 2024. The company’s capital deficiency increased to P78.04 billion as of March this year, DITO CME said.
The company attributed its losses to the pre-operating and start-up costs associated with the rollout of its telecommunications network, adding that DITO Telecommunity must fulfill its investment commitment of approximately P256.54 billion for the first five years of its rollout.
“Moreover, DITO Tel’s operating at a loss at the beginning of its operations due to large initial capital expenditures is part and parcel of the telecommunications industry… DITO Tel will still have to make continuous capital expenditures in its network in order to maintain its current network dominance,” it said.
Based on its internal projections, DITO Telecommunity expects to generate positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) within this year.
To recall, DITO CME has executed several financial strategies, including a follow-on offering that raised up to P2.05 billion and private placements that generated up to P14.5 billion in capital.
“In the long run, if executed efficiently, this plan could strengthen DITO’s position and profitability by fostering infrastructure development, reducing financial risk, and supporting operational stability,” Globalinks Securities’ Mr. Arce said.
At the stock exchange on Tuesday, shares in the company closed 10.74% lower at P1.08 apiece.
IN celebration of Philippine Independence Day, the box office and critically acclaimed historical epics Heneral Luna and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral are returning to the big screen from June 12 to 15. The two award-winning films — produced by TBA Studios and directed by Jerrold Tarog — chronicle the lives of two heroes of the Philippine Revolution, Generals Antonio Luna and Gregorio del Pilar. The movies will be shown in the following participating cinemas: June 12 only — Robinsons Galleria Ortigas, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, Shangri-La Red Carpet Cinemas, Fishermall Quezon City, Fishermall Malabon, and Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall; June 12 to 15: SM Cinema North EDSA, SM Cinema Mall of Asia, and SM Cinema Fairview. Ticket prices start at P150.
THE newest solo exhibition at Silverlens Manila is Corinne de San Jose’s Everyday is Like Sunday, which is ongoing until July 12. It is her 8th show with the gallery, marking her return to Manila after her fellowship in New York at the Asian Cultural Council and her residency at Civitella Ranieri Visual Arts Residency in Italy. The exhibit responds to a growing dissonance in traditional strongholds of meaning — faith, science, institutions — by turning to silence as both an act of resistance and a form of refuge, told through a collection of sound-based works that transcend conventional notions of narrative and composition. As a sound designer, Ms. San Jose has created multi-sensorial installations, giving way to new modes of storytelling. Silverlens is at 2263 Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati City.
THE LAUNCH of the book Play Filipino Together will feature a live performance titled Play Filipino Together: Filipino Music for Classical Guitar Ensemble. It will be held on June 26 at the Y Space in the Yuchengco Museum at RCBC Plaza, Ayala corner Gil Puyat Ave., Makati, starting at 6:30 p.m. The performers are classical guitarist Monching Carpio and the PIMA Guitar Quartet. They will showcase folk melodies reimagined for classical guitar ensemble. Admission for the general public is P750, while the discounted rate for seniors and PWDs is P550.
VISUAL ARTIST Lendl Arvin is holding his first solo show at Avellana Art Gallery titled Sunless Room. In it, he displays his affinity for seeing beyond everyday objects that are normally taken for granted. The exhibit will immerse visitors in his workspace as he takes objects out of their natural environment into an otherworldly, transcendental realm. The exhibit opens on June 12. The Avellana Art Gallery is located at 2680 FB Harrison, Pasay City.
THE next Manila Symphony Orchestra concert is A Night in Hollywood, set for June 28, 7:30 p.m., at the Aliw Theater in the CCP Complex, Pasay City. Performing with the orchestra are Hungarian cellist Zoltán Onczay, American guest conductor Angel Velez, and composers and conductors from the Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive who are coming to Manila for a week-long collaboration. The concert will feature a mix of new music composed for movies as well as a suite of iconic Hollywood compositions.
DUE to high demand, the run of Delia D.: A Musical Featuring the Songs of Jonathan Manalo has been extended. Additional performances have been added on June 14, 8 p.m., and June 15, 3 p.m., with special encore shows on June 28, 3 and 8 p.m. The musical presents the story of Delia, a drag queen whose journey of dreams, drama, and self-discovery unfolds under the spotlight. It is staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.
THE University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), in partnership with Phildiz Studios and Galerie Joaquin, has launched “Giving heART: Restoring the Legacy, Transforming the Future,” an art-driven fundraising initiative supporting the renovation of the Celestino M. Dizon Auditorium at the UA&P. It aims to address the venue’s urgent need for restoration and modernization. A digital catalogue sale featuring works by emerging and established Filipino artists will be available from June to September, including in a silent auction of 10 limited-edition fine art nature photographs by photographer Philip Dizon. The initiative will culminate in an on-site exhibit in September at the Dizon Auditorium on the UA&P Ortigas Campus. All proceeds will go directly to the auditorium’s renovation.
THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has announced the eight aspiring playwrights selected for the Virgin Labfest XX Writing Fellowship Program, which will take place online and onsite at the CCP Complex in Pasay City from June 17 to 29. This year’s writing fellows are: Ace Abu, Aldrine Anzures, Princess Joy Buenafe, Mark Joseph Briones, Laurence Miguel De Vera, Maleah Rae Frange, Bradley Jason Pantajo, and Qashrina Musa. Under the guidance of playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas, the program offers a platform for selected writing fellows to engage in lectures, workshops, and discussions on playwriting and script critiquing.
