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Malls try to woo back shoppers

SHOPPING MALLS continue to implement health and safety protocols to ensure their customers can have a safe shopping experience, as Metro Manila is now under a general community quarantine.

Following government guidelines, mall operators are implementing standard health protocols such as requiring all customers to wear face masks and conducting temperature checks upon entry.

Malls have also placed hand sanitizers, alcohol dispensers and foot baths at entrances. A few open shops have also provided alcohol dispensers for customers.

For some shoppers, the malls’ measures give them some peace of mind, despite worries about the coronavirus.

Marie Soriano (not her real name) has not gone to a mall since the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in mid-March.

“Nakakapanibago mag-punta sa mall ngayon. Maganda na may mga alcohol pero medyo nakakakaba pa rin, even if naka-mask na (I’m not used to going to the mall today. It’s good that there is alcohol but still kind of nervous, even if I wear a mask),” she said before going inside the Ayala Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

To discourage people from lingering, mall operators are required to set the air conditioning temperature at 26 Celsius and to remove free Wifi.

Malls are also limiting the number of people allowed to go inside, and to implement social distancing. Customers are asked to observe a two or three-step gap when using the escalator, while floor markings indicate where customers are supposed to stand while in line.

Araneta City opened its three Quezon City malls — Farmers Plaza, Gateway Mall and Ali Mall — on Monday. Since Farmers Plaza and Gateway are adjacent to the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and Light Rail Transit Line 2, respectively, the company said it is implementing heightened security and sanitation at the entrance of the two malls.

“As we slowly go back to our usual daily routine, we continue to comply with the directives of the national and local government. This is to ensure that the City of Firsts will remain a safe place for everyone,” Antonio T. Mardo, senior vice-president for operations of Araneta City, said in a statement.

SHOPPING
To cater to customers who are still wary of going outside, some mall operators are now offering personal shopper services, as well as online delivery or pick-up services.

Vista Mall and its anchor stores AllHome and All Day Supermarket have expanded personal shopper services amid the “new normal.”

“Adopting new and innovative ways to enable customers to still purchase essentials and other needs for their homes has become a priority for Vista Mall and its business partners,” the Villar-led company said in a statement.

AllDay Supermarket launched its personal shopper delivery service at the onset of the enhanced community quarantine. Other brands under the AllValue Group such as AllHome, AllSports, AllToys and Finds Discount Store, which have stores at Vista Malls, also offer the personal shopper service through Viber. Customers can have the items either delivered or picked up.

At Ayala and Robinsons Malls, customers can order in advance from selected open mall tenants via phone call or SMS and get the order at the designated stations outside the mall. Ayala Malls has a service called DriveBuy, while Robinsons Malls has pickup stations in Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Magnolia. — Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Bayanihan Musikahan says goodbye, having raised over P122 million

AFTER two and a half months of nightly online concerts to raise funds for poor communities affected by the lockdown, Bayanihan Musikahan says goodbye after raising more than P122 million for its beneficiaries.

“Bayanihan Musikahan is a coming together of different sectors to raise funds,” National Artist for Music Raymundo “Ryan” Cayabyab said in a video posted on the online concert series’ Facebook site on Sunday.

“Artists are naturally emphatic so it wasn’t very difficult for them to decide to join us… while most of them are not so familiar with online streaming and [while] most of us needed assistance to prepare the stage, to prepare the sound [in normal concerts], well this time they did it on their own,” he said.

The online concert series — organized by Mr. Cayabyab and four others — was named after his late-night music show, Ryan Ryan Musikahan, which ran from 1988 to 1995. The online concert series, which started on March 19, had more than 170 concerts.

The show featured performances by Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Ebe Dancel, Sponge Cola, Top Suzara, Noel Cabangon, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Jennylyn Mercado, and Dennis Trillo, among numerous others.

Its final show, held on May 30, saw performances by Chito Miranda, Ebe Dancel, Noel Cabangon, Louie Ocampo, Mike Villegas, Bayang Barrios, Yumi Lacsamana, and Kate Torralba. An encore concert by Gary Valenciano was held the same night in a separate stream on Mr. Valenciano’s Facebook page.

The project was created in the early days of the Luzon-wide COVID-19 lockdown in order to send help to the most vulnerable people in the National Capital Region.

Initially, the project aimed to raise enough money for 15,000 food packs. The concert series was expected to run for only a week or two, but it quickly turned into something bigger than its organizers ever imagined.

“The beauty of Bayanihan Musikahan is its end-to-end system, we have a platform where artists can perform and entertain the public and attract them to donate to our cause,” Danilo A. Songco, CEO of PinoyMe Foundation, a foundation which supports microfinance institutions, said in the same video. Mr. Songco is one of the organizers of the series.

The donations were managed by Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the funds were converted to more than 100,000 food packs for informal settlements in Mega Manila, its nearby provinces, and Cebu. The funds were also used to aid performing arts workers who were left without jobs.

They also sourced produce from farmers in Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, and Bicol for the food packs and helped those farmers transport their produce to the beneficiaries.

Their system ensured that “all our assistance goes to the beneficiaries,” said Mr. Songco, and this contributed to the success of the project.

“I believe mounting Bayanihan Musikahan was certainly groundbreaking. Imagine we were creating content that was normally done live, straight from our homes. We were completely adapting to the new normal by simply jumping into it. It was quite something as we were pioneering something in the digital space,” Jay Adlao Block, head of events organizer Outbound Asia, said in the video. Ms. Adlao Block was also one of the organizers of the program.

“We still have a long way to go before the pandemic ends, but now we are certain that musicians, artists, singers, creatives, community leaders, we are not going to leave our countrymen behind,” Mr. Cayabyab said in the vernacular. — Zsarlene B. Chua

Gov’t hikes T-bill award

THE GOVERNMENT hiked the volume of Treasury bills (T-bills) it awarded on Monday, even opening the tap facility anew as bids soared while rates moved sideways.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Monday borrowed P26 billion via T-bills on Monday, higher than its original P20-billion program.

Total bids reached P83.995 billion yesterday, the bulk of which were for one-year securities, prompting the BTr to open the tap facility to offer an additional P10 billion in 364-day papers to accommodate excess demand.

Broken down, the Treasury raised P7 billion from the 91-day T-bills, higher than the P5-billion program, out of tenders worth P17.35 billion. The average rate for the three-month papers stood at 2.046%, slightly lower than the 2.058% fetched in the auction last week.

It also raised the programmed P5 billion from 182-day papers as demand reached P15.55 billion. The average rate for the six-month T-bills inched up by 0.4 basis point (bp) to 2.118% from 2.114% previously.

The government also increased to P14 billion the volume of 364-day T-bills it accepted from its plan to raise just P10 billion as bids for the tenor hit P51.095 billion. The average yield on the one-year papers declined 8.8 bps to 2.42% from last week’s 2.508%.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said the strong demand for short-term tenors showed investors continued their flight to safety, stretching to the longer tenor as they sought higher yields.

“Sentiment continues to be in safe assets but try to stretch yield with one-year tenor,” Ms. De Leon told reporters yesterday via Viber.

A bond trader said the strong demand, especially for the one-year papers which were over five times oversubscribed, indicated that investors are seeking safety from government bonds as they don’t see growth potential ahead.

“Really stronger demand for one- to five-year tenors now as shown by this auction. [This could] mean they don’t see growth potential in that horizon. Mainly due to [business] restructuring,” the trader said.

The trader noted some companies have been announcing restructuring plans recently, such as Jollibee Foods Corp. allotment of P7 billion to rationalize and adapt to the changing behavior of consumers, as well as BDO Unibank, Inc.’s move to expand its loan loss provisions to P22.1 billion from P2.1 billion previously in anticipation of higher nonperforming loans.

“The only reason 91- and 182- day can’t go lower is because investors would want to insure against inflation. So far, we see 91- and 182-day yield below the CPI (consumer price index) of 2.3%,” the trader added, referring to the central bank’s point projection for May headline inflation.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Department of Economic Research last week said headline inflation for May likely settled between 1.9% and 2.7%, giving a point projection of 2.3%.

Meanwhile, Ms. De Leon said they will continue to monitor the local market for developments for a possible jumbo bond issue or another sale of retail Treasury bonds (RTB).

“[We remain] watchful of developments and risk return tolerance of investors,” she said when asked if the Treasury is eyeing more issuances amid the robust liquidity in the local market.

The government plans to borrow P170 billion from the local market in June: P110 billion via weekly T-bill auctions and the remaining P60 billion in Treasury bonds to be offered fortnightly. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Some government services reopen at Robinsons Malls

SATELLITE branches of some government agencies have reopened inside Robinsons Malls, as the lockdown restrictions have been relaxed.

Robinsons Malls Lingkod Pinoy Center (RMLPC) hosts offices of Social Security System (SSS), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), among others.

The following offices are now open:

SSS
Robinsons Place (RP) Valencia in

Bukidnon (9 a.m.-6 p.m.)

RP Dasmariñas (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)

RP Imus (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)

RP Palawan (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

RP Naga (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Palawan (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

RP Dumaguete (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Ormoc and RP Roxas

(8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP GenSan (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

PAG-IBIG
RP Valencia (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Ilocos (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP General Trias (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Imus (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Naga (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Antique (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP North Tacloban (8 a.m.-3 p.m.

every Monday, Thursday and Friday)

RP Ormoc (9 a.m.-3 p.m. every

Monday, Thursday and Friday)

PHILHEALTH
RP Palawan (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

RP Jaro and RP Roxas (9 a.m.-6 p.m.)

PHLPOST
RP Dasmariñas (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)

RP Imus (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Palawan (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

Robinsons Starmills in Pampanga

(10 a.m.-3 p.m.)

RP Lipa (10 a.m.-6 p.m.)

Robinsons Luisita (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Antique (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

RP Roxas (9 a.m.-6 p.m.)

RP Ormoc (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

NBI
RP Dasmariñas (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)

RP General Trias (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

PRC also reopened at Robinsons Galleria, RP Manila, Robinsons Novaliches, RP Las Piñas, Robinsons Sta. Rosa in Laguna, RP Pangasinan, RP Ilocos in Ilocos Norte, Robinsons Starmills in Pampanga, RP Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, RP Santiago in Isabela, RP Naga, RP Dumaguete, RP Bacolod, RP Iloilo, RP Ormoc, RP Gensan, and RP Butuan. PRC requires appointments made through their website before going to any of their offices.

DFA has also restarted operations at selected Robinsons Malls, such as Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Novaliches, RP Santiago, RP Ilocos, RP Pangasinan, Robinsons Starmills Pampanga, RP Lipa, RP Palawan, RP Santiago, Isabela, RP Dumaguete, RP Bacolod, RP Iloilo, RP North Tacloban and RP GenSan. Operating hours are also varied per location but mostly between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Bureau of Immigration in RP Ilocos is open from (8 a.m.-5 p.m.), while RP Dasmariñas, RP Palawan, RP General Santos branches are open for inquiries.

LTO offices are now open for license application & renewal and vehicle registration and renewal in the following branches: RP General Trias (10 a.m.-5 p.m.), RP Imus (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and RP Palawan (8 a.m.-6 p.m.).

Palawan oil field to halt production in September

An oil field located northwest of Palawan is set to be closed in September, Oriental Petroleum and Mineral Corp. (OPMC) said in stock exchange disclosure, Monday.

The cessation of operation for Block C-1 of Service Contract 14, or the Galoc Block, has been set on Sept. 24, according to its operator Galoc Production Co. (GPC).

This was decided after Rubicon Offshore International, which owns the floating production storage and offloading vessels used in the oil field, ended its service to the production block.

The Department of Energy (DoE), which awarded the service contract, has been notified of the move. OPMC, along with partners, is currently seeking its approval to receive an initial abandonment fund to implement its suspension plan.

“GPC has relayed its total commitment to the long-term future of the Galoc asset and is currently evaluating several scenarios to retain flexibility for the earliest possible production re-start as and when the market conditions improve,” OPMC said.

In November last year, the DoE certified GPC as an energy project of national significance. — Adam J. Ang

Company focuses on plants for health

SEKAYA, a brand that focuses on plant-based products, has added to its product lines, expanding its reach towards skincare, food supplements, and powdered vegetables for shakes and smoothies.

“We’re committed to developing high-quality plant-based products that can improve their lives,” Bernice Gonzalez, Sekaya marketing head, said during a May 27 digital press conference.

Sekaya (short for Sentro ng Katutubong Yaman) is the consumer brand of Unilab, Inc.’s Synnovate Pharma Corp., which focuses on functional food supplementation in the natural health landscape. It launched its first line of botanical infusions in 2018.

Infusions — unlike tea which only contains leaves — include bark, roots, and other plant parts.

The three new lines focus on different markets: the Raw Actives is a line of plant-based superfoods for athletes, Botanicare is its skincare line, and Sekaya Food Supplements is the company’s first 100% locally sourced supplements.

The Raw Actives line has five products: Daily Greens (P1,900 for 60 servings) which include spinach and kale, Barley Greens (P1,800 for 60 servings), Maca Factor which include maca roots (P1,500 for 100 servings), Powerbeet (P1,500 for 30 servings), Vegan Protein which has a mixture of pea protein and brown rice (P2,500 for 30 servings), and Pea Protein (P1,800 for 30 servings). The items in the line can be taken in smoothies or mixed with water to make a juice.

The Botanicare line only has one product, the Aloe Ferox, a water-based gel cream moisturizer said to be easily absorbed and which contains 99% cape aloe (Aloe ferox). It costs P780.

Its Food Supplements line also has just one product for now, but the company has positioned the line as being composed of “premium, pharma-grade, natural food supplements that are 100% sourced and manufactured in the Philippines, designed to address the needs of Filipinos,” according to a release.

Its first product, Sekaya Organic Moringa, comes in 500 mg capsules that cost P980 per bottle. Moringa is touted as an antioxidant and is said to boost the immune system.

“Moving forward… all our future launches are going to focused now on local products,” Ms. Gonzalez said.

The plan for the brand is to come up with “more than a hundred products in the next five years,” for the food supplements line, according to Abigail D. Nepomuceno, director and business unit head of Synnovate.

“The Philippines is very rich in terms of natural resources and so we should be the first one promoting our natural products… it just lacked the science as of now,” she added.

The company, she said, is working with the country’s Department of Science and Technology on a “standardization study on local herbs,” and are sourcing five products from the department’s Industrial Technology Development Institute and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.

The said products, which Ms. Nepomuceno declined to give specifics on, are “supposed to come in the next year or so” and that “most of them would be locally sourced.”

Sekaya products will be available via Lazada in June. For more information, visit the Sekaya Facebook page. — Zsarlene B. Chua

Older crowd embraces online banking, rewards firms’ digital push

IT TOOK A global pandemic to get many baby boomers to bank online. Lenders have taken notice.

Over the past two months, Americans flocked to websites and apps to manage their finances as the coronavirus limited access to branches, according industry executives. For JPMorgan Chase & Co., existing online clients are using the offerings more frequently, while Bank of America Corp. found that older customers are seeking out its digital services.

“We may have opened some people’s eyes to the future,” Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan told investors at a conference last week. “We’re just on a relentless push.”

The coronavirus has given a boost to digital banking, which entails less paper, greater use of electronic services and fewer in-person meetings. Tech has been viewed by banks as both an offensive and defensive tool. Online services have the potential to bring in customers, help cut costly branches and pare workforces, while also making it harder for new competitors to poach clients with the allure of better technology.

In April, 23% of new logins to Bank of America’s online and mobile products were by seniors and boomers, Mr. Moynihan said. They also accounted for about 20% of customers who deposited checks using mobile phones for the first time. In its business catering to wealthy people, the use of technology has risen over the last six weeks to levels that the bank projected would take six years, according to Andy Sieg, president of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

One in four people surveyed by Boston Consulting Group said they plan to use branches less or stop visiting altogether when the crisis is over, according to a global poll from April 13 to April 27. The pandemic sparked 12% of the people polled to enroll in online or mobile banking.

“We’ve seen tremendous increases in the frequency of use,” said Mindy Hauptman, a BCG partner based in Philadelphia. “If you talked to someone a year ago, they would have said digital was critical to their future. I think that’s been reinforced and accelerated.”

Customers were steered toward online banking for a multitude of reasons, Hauptman said. Many stayed home to comply with government orders, while others weren’t able to visit branches because of closures or limited services. As clients flooded call centers to request payment deferrals and inquire about government relief programs, others opted to go online.

“This crisis is accelerating the trend toward digital banking,” Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. President John Waldron told the conference last week. That’s translated to a 25% jump in active users on the bank’s institutional platform, while its retail arm, Marcus, has seen a 300% surge in visits for financial articles and videos.

The pace of digital adoption remains uneven. In the April survey, only 16% of respondents in the US said they would use branches less often after the crisis, the lowest of any nation in the survey.

“We’re a little surprised of seeing in the consumer business that the folks who are already digital are doing more of it,” said JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. “The folks who aren’t digital aren’t exactly picking it up. And I wish we could find a way to incent them to do that better.” — Bloomberg

McDonald’s enhances health safety protocols

McDonald’s Philippines plans to close off playplaces and ban common customer areas under its health safety protocols once dine-in operations are allowed.

Golden Arches Development Corp., the master franchisee of McDonald’s in the Philippines, has presented its protocols to the Trade department. Dine-in operations are not yet allowed under the general community quarantine.

The company said in a press release on Monday that its stores will have a “no mask, no entry policy,” and will check customer temperatures at the entrance through its one-door policy.

Common areas for water dispensers, gravy refill, and reusable utensils will not be allowed.

The Trade department on Sunday released guidelines on dine-in operations, banning buffet and self-service stations and prescribing sanitation and furniture distancing measures.

McDonald’s will provide cashless transaction methods and trays for cash payment, as well as hand and footwear sanitation. The crew will serve orders to customers at their tables to avoid crowding.

Employees will undergo daily health checks, and will be given additional protective equipment like gloves and face masks as well as vitamins and sanitizers. All store areas, including the kitchen and the crew and manager’s room will have physical distancing measures.

“McDonald’s has always been strict and committed when it comes to quality, safety and cleanliness. This has always been part of our DNA. We have global standards and protocols when it comes to food safety and quality from sourcing to serving, sanitation of our stores, and most importantly, safety of people — our own employees, and customers,” McDonald’s Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth S. Yang said. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Cebu property sector eyes new strategies

CEBU’S real estate sector is looking to adopt new strategies to cope with the “new normal” amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a Cebu property webinar hosted by Santos Knight Frank last May 7, property players said these strategies include work-from-home schemes, repurposing existing facilities and maximizing real estate assets. They also emphasized the importance of protecting the health and safety of their employees and stakeholders.

“We feel a responsibility for every one of our stakeholders: employees, contractors, suppliers, construction workers. It’s all about picking the right baskets right now and having a game plan not just for 2020 but for the coming years ahead,” Franco Soberano, executive vice-president and COO of Cebu Landmasters, Inc., said during the webinar.

Lockdown measures have effectively shut the tourism and hospitality sector in Cebu, one of the key tourist destinations in the country. Developers had to convert some of their facilities to serve as alternative sites for business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, as well as employee housing.

However, there are also opportunities seen in the industrial and logistics sectors.

“The industrial and logistics sector remains a bright spot for Cebu, driven by the shift to e-commerce and the continuous demand for essential goods,” said Rick Santos, chairman and CEO of Santos Knight Frank.

Amid the challenges, there is a need to find a “win-win” solution between landlords and tenants.

“Landlord-occupier partnership is a long-term relationship. During these difficult times, both should be able to understand, listen, and be flexible to survive and thrive in this crisis,” Kling Lacson, director for occupier services and commercial agency for Santos Knight Frank Cebu, said.

Artist Christo, known for wrapping exteriors of famous landmarks, 84

CHRISTO, the Bulgarian-born artist best known for his temporary installations based on wrapping the exteriors of landmark buildings, bridges and outdoor spaces, died on Sunday at age 84 of natural causes at his home in New York City.

“Christo lived his life to the fullest, not only dreaming up what seemed impossible but realizing it,” the office of the artist, born Christo Yavacheff, said in a statement.

Christo escaped from then-Communist Bulgaria in 1957, first to Prague and then to Vienna and Geneva. A year later, he moved to Paris, where he met his wife and art partner, Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon. He lived in New York for 56 years.

In 2018, he presented The London Mastaba -— a 20-meter-high (66-foot) sculpture of an ancient Egyptian tomb, made from 7,506 red, white and mauve barrels put on a platform in a lake in London’s Hyde Park.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who died in 2009, are also known for such works as The Gates, a 2005 installation in New York’s Central Park, and the wrapping of the Reichstag in Berlin in 1995 in a vast silvery curtain.

His latest project envisioned wrapping the Arc de Triomphe in Paris in 25,000 square meters (269,100 square feet) of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue and 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) of red rope.

“Christo and Jeanne-Claude have always made clear that their artworks in progress be continued after their deaths. Per Christo’s wishes, L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped in Paris, France, is still on track for Sept. 18 — Oct. 3, 2021,” the statement said. — Reuters

Bangladesh Bank sues RCBC, Bloomberry anew on 2016 heist

BANGLADESH BANK is seeking damages from the parties. — REUTERS

THE BANGLADESH BANK has filed a new civil suit against Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and Bloomberry Resorts Corp. to claim damages related to the $81-million heist in 2016.

“In the complaint, Bangladesh Bank is seeking compensation for damages relating to the incident in 2016 where $81M was allegedly stolen from the account of Bangladesh Bank through conspiracy perpetrated by all the defendants,” RCBC said in a filing with the local bourse on Friday.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the parent unit of Bloomberry Resorts & Hotel, Inc. (BRHI) that operates Solaire Resort & Casino was also involved in the new complaint.

In its own filing on Monday, Bloomberry Resorts said the new case filed against them is for “conversion/theft/misappropriation; aiding and abetting the same; conspiracy to commit the same.” They noted that Bangladesh Bank’s complaint against RCBC is for fraud.

“Summons has not been served here. BRHI will vigorously defend itself against these baseless charges,” Bloomberry said.

The appeal was filed on May 27 after the Federal Court of New York dismissed in March the case filed by the Bangladesh Bank on the incident.

Aside from RCBC, other respondents for the case include Maia Santos Deguito, the former branch manager of RCBC Jupiter Branch where the $81-million theft from the account of Bangladesh Bank was transferred under fictitious names of clients with accounts in the said Makati branch.

It also includes other former RCBC employees and officials such as Ismael S. Reyes, Angela Ruth S. Torres, Raul Victor B. Tan, Nestor Pineda, Brigitte Capina, as well as former RCBC President and CEO and now House of Investments president and CEO Lorenzo V. Tan.

The earlier dismissed case was filed by the central bank of Bangladesh to seek compensation for the $81 million it allegedly lost to North Korean hackers who sent multiple remittance orders out of the central bank’s account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. These funds were remitted to alleged fictitious accounts in RCBC and were also said to have been funneled into Philippine casinos through gambling. — LWTN

France’s Louvre museum to reopen July 6, Versailles June 6

PARIS — The Louvre museum in Paris will reopen on July 6, it said on Friday, as France’s historical and cultural sites emerge gradually from the coronavirus lockdown.

In a statement, France’s most visited museum said a booking system and new signposting would offer visitors the maximum possible safety while they are in the building. They will be asked to wear a mask and keep social distancing.

“Even if it was possible to discover the Louvre’s treasures virtually during lockdown, nothing can replace the emotion of standing in front of a work of art; that is the raison d’être of museums,” Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez said.

Between March 12 and May 22, the Louvre’s website received 10.5 million visitors, compared to 14.1 million in all of 2019.

The number of virtual visitors per day to the site soared to about 330,000, with a peak of nearly 400,000, compared to about 40,000 visitors per day before the coronavirus crisis.

The Louvre also said the Tuileries garden in front of the museum would open on Sunday, but collective games and gatherings of more than 10 people would be banned.

Both had been closed on March 13.

The announcement follows new steps unveiled on Thursday by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to ease the lockdown.

Culture Minister Franck Riester said in a statement that France’s main historical sites and museums would reopen gradually between early June and mid-July, starting with Loire valley castle Chambord on June 5 and the Palace of Versailles on June 6.

In Paris, the Quai Branly Museum of indigenous civilizations will reopen on June 9, followed by the Musee d’Orsay, home of the French impressionists, on June 23.

On July 1, the Grand Palais will kick off a major exhibition on Pompeii and the Centre Pompidou’s exterior escalators will start lifting visitors to its modern art shows. The Picasso museum will reopen in the third week of July. — Reuters

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