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Mitsubishi bulks up with the Strada Athlete

MITSUBISHI MOTORS Philippines Corp. (MMPC) flexes its muscles with the Strada Athlete, the sportiest iteration of its popular pickup nameplate. In a release, MMPC said the “powerful and durable truck now carries a tougher and sportier aesthetic design with its black dynamic shield, black front bumper garnish, 18-inch black alloy wheels, black roof, styling bar and side decal accents that are matched with a luxurious two-tone interior finish.”

Inside, the Strada Athlete receives exclusive two-tone black and orange leather with orange stitching accents in its seats, gear shift panel and floor center console. J-line design within is said to maximize interior space — enhancing the second-row legroom. It is also given an eight-way power-adjust driver seat and cruise control.

As the company presents the Strada Athlete, it also reveals its new brand ambassador, mixed martial arts (MMA) star and current One heavyweight champion Brandon Vera.

Said MMPC Brand Communications Department Head Mark Parulan, “For us, Brandon Vera best represents the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete as his characteristics reflect the very definition of a true athlete. Apart from being a successful world champion in mixed martial arts, Brandon is considered a role model by many followers of the sport because of his discipline, attitude and dedication to be the best version of himself. Like the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete, the newly enhanced pickup variant of Mitsubishi Motors is designed to contend with the very best trucks available in the market. The Strada Athlete has an exterior design that exudes commanding presence and is equipped with features that are geared to provide overwhelming power, utmost comfort, safety and reliable overall performance — making the Strada Athlete a versatile champion.”

Meanwhile, MMPC President and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri described the Strada Athlete as having a “robust and sporty design.” He added, “With 40 years of truck engineering heritage, the Strada has been refined to become a well-balanced road warrior that does not only conquer rough terrains but also provides advance technology, comfort and safety to its driver and passenger.”

Coming in 4×2 and 4×4 variants, the Strada is powered by the brand’s 2.4-liter MIVEC Turbo Clean Diesel engine delivering 181ps and 430Nm, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Super Select 4WD II system (on the 4×4 variant). It boasts a suite of safety features such as forward collision mitigation, blind spot warning with lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, ultrasonic misacceleration mitigation system, Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control, trailer stability assist, hill descent control, hill start assist, multi-around monitor with guiding and expected course linem, auto high beam, and Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body.

The new Strada Athlete comes in three color options: Sunflare Orange Pearl (exclusive to the Athlete), White Diamond, and Graphite Gray Metallic. The 4×2 is priced at P1.443 million, the 4×4 is at P1.76 million. For more information, visit the variant microsite at www.newstrada.mmpc.ph.

PGA Cars beefs up pandemic protocols

PGA CARS, INC., official county importer and distributor of premium European brands Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley, has leveled up its sanitization protocols to better prioritize the health and safety of its clients, guests and work force.

Sales executives and service advisors are now welcoming guests while donning full personal protective equipment. In a release, the company said, “The move complements the requirement for employees and visitors to wear a mask at all times, as well as for them to observe social distancing in the showrooms.”

For convenience, customers are encouraged to book an appointment prior to going to any PGA Cars showroom or facility for a visit or a servicing. “All vehicles are immediately disinfected upon arrival at the service center, and before these are released to clients,” said the company.

Staff will hang a tag that says “Sanitized” on the rearview mirror to identify a vehicle that has been thoroughly disinfected before release to clients. The disinfection process is applied to new vehicles, as well to those which have been brought in for servicing.

Other measures being practiced at PGA Cars include a total antibody testing for employees prior to reporting for work, a thermal scan for everyone entering the premises, a health declaration form, a requirement to sanitize and the regular disinfection of company facilities.

“PGA Cars has adopted these additional measures to fully comply with international health and safety standards meant to stem the tide of COVID-19,” concluded the statement. For more information or to book an appointment, contact PGA Cars at +632 8727-0381 to 85.

‘Fully payloaded’ Toyota Hiace Cargo unveiled

THE COUNTRY’s leading utility van nameplate, with a 66% market share, has veritably donned work clothes as Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) unveils the Hiace Cargo, which is a seat-less option to accommodate payload instead of passengers. It is predicated on the Hiace Commuter.

Last year, TMP had introduced the so-called “full-model-change” Hiace with the addition of Super Grandia Elite, and GL Tourer variants to cater to a more upscale market. TMP, however, continued to maintain the Commuter variant as a “staple people-mover used as company shuttles for private use, and UV express to serve the public.”

TMP First Vice-President for Vehicle Sales Operations Sherwin Chua Lim said in a company release: “It is also timely as we are also able to cater to the needs of the market for goods transfer during this pandemic situation… The Philippines is the largest Hiace market outside Japan. We want to continue expanding our Hiace lineup for more versatile use.” The Hiace Cargo retails for P1.101 million.

Geely Coolray is best-selling subcompact crossover in June

Based on the latest Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) reports, the Geely Coolray moved the most units (154) last June among five-seater subcompact crossovers. Geely Philippines itself cracked the top 10 auto brands in sales last June with 184 in total sales. This marks the brand’s highest monthly sales record since January. In H1 2020, Geely Philippines sold a total of 549 units. Said Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP) President and CEO Mikihisa Takayama, “This is definitely a very positive development as every auto brand tries to bounce back during this post-ECQ period. We are very delighted of this outcome since it is mainly driven by one model, the Coolray, and only one showroom located in North EDSA… We expect Geely sales to improve further as we open new dealership outlets and further complement our product line up this year.” The SGAP sales performance of 184 units represents a 160% spike from 70 units in May.

Free antibacterial car treatment with minimum spend at Phoenix

FOR EVERY P1,000 worth of fuel purchase using the company’s recently launched contactless payment option, motorists can get free antibacterial car treatment at participating Phoenix stations. A customer gets a complimentary antibacterial car treatment e-voucher via the Limitless app where Phoenix is one of the partner merchants. “As some members of the community are compelled to go out despite the risks, we are finding more ways to adapt to the new normal and assist our customers in going about their day in a safer and more convenient manner. With this complimentary antibacterial treatment, we urge our customers to make use of the contactless payment facility in our retail stations as it offers more safety and convenience, and remind everyone to remain cautious,” said Phoenix Petroleum President and COO Henry “Bong” Fadullon.

The promo is available at 150 Phoenix retail stations nationwide. The fuel company recently launched its contactless payment option, which allows customers to pay using Alipay, GCash, GrabPay, and WeChat through QR code scanning during transactions. Meanwhile, Limitless is a loyalty program that offers members rewards for valid purchases at partner merchants including Phoenix. Phoenix uses a German-made car revitalizer machine that helps disinfect the interiors, kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, and improves the car’s air-conditioning system. The full details of the promo are available at https://bit.ly/Anti-bacpromo. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/phoenixfuels.ph.

Foton PHL expands reach to Iloilo

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE and truck specialist Foton strengthens its presence in Western Visayas with the opening of Foton Iloilo. The state-of-the-art new dealership is operated by Ang’s Automotive, Inc., a company under the ALA Group of Companies, which boasts 40 years of car dealership experience with various automotive brands.

Said Dealer Principal Tonton Ang, “We welcomed the Foton brand to our group because of the trust that was formed with the people behind its distribution and our trust in the quality of the vehicles.” He added that Foton distributor United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (UAAGI) stands out for focusing on both sales and after-sales. Mr. Ang added that he was very impressed after visiting Foton’s expansive and modern 11-hectare assembly plant in Clark, which houses the three major facilities of the brand’s product operations: unit assembly, parts warehouse and pre-delivery inspection, and body fabrication. In a press release, Mr. Ang said his vision is to develop Foton as one of the top trusted Chinese brands in Iloilo and show how it can ably compete with some of the major brands in the car and truck industry.

The safety protocols-compliant temporary Foton showroom is located at #38 Luna Street, La Paz, Iloilo City. To schedule for an appointment or test drive, customers may reach out through any of the following contact points: Facebook (Foton Iloilo), 0917-628-2679 (Globe) and 0919-068-5567 (Smart), or (033) 320-2475 (landline). The showroom with full sales, parts, and service capabilities will rise on MacArthur Drive, Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City by the last quarter of the year.

Bastille Day promo from Peugeot

PEUGEOT PHILIPPINES celebrated Bastille Day with its “Revel in the Freedom to Choose — Peugeot Bastille Day Celebration” promo that gifts its car buyers with a voucher that can be applied to any one or a combination of the following: cash discount, La Boutique lifestyle items, financing subsidy, and other free items (LTO registration, comprehensive insurance, chattel mortgage fee, etc.).

In a company release, Peugeot Philippines Director for Sales Dodie Gañac said, “Every year, Peugeot Philippines makes it a point to share in the culture and history of France by somehow participating in the Bastille Day celebrations, France’s own version of Independence Day. This year, we decided to include our customers in the celebration by giving them the freedom to choose to use substantial discounts in whichever way they want.”

The voucher may be applied with the purchase of a Peugeot 3008 SUV or a Peugeot 5008 SUV this July in any Peugeot dealership nationwide. This allows for up to P100,000 in freebies. For more information, visit or call a dealership located in Alabang, Pasig, Quezon Avenue, Pampanga, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro. Customers may email info@peugeot.ph or visit facebook.com/PeugeotPhilippines.

The show must go on: Theater industry counts the cost of a lost season

By Michelle Anne P. Soliman, Reporter

In mid-March, Black Box Production had to cancel the sold-out final shows of its extended rerun of Dekada ‘70 the Musical. The Luzon lockdown had rendered in-theater shows all but impossible.

“‘Yung last week namin na-cancel (Our last week was canceled). Fortunately, we were still paid for the remaining shows,” Joshua Martin Tayco, an ensemble cast member, said in a video interview.

Mr. Tayco also lost to the lockdown his slate of appearances in the second quarter. He was scheduled to stage a play about climate change with the support of the Department of Education (DepEd). He was also due to act at this year’s 16-th edition of the Virgin Labfest (VLF), which had been scheduled for June.

At the start of the quarantine, Mr. Tayco and his colleagues retained some hope that VLF would go ahead, because the original lockdown was scheduled to end in mid-April.

However, restrictions on movement did not actually ease until mid-May with the shift to a more permissive form of quarantine, and then only for businesses deemed essential. Mass gatherings remained restricted.

CANCELED SHOWS
The lineup of theatrical productions canceled or postponed by the lockdown include PETA’s Under My Skin, which canceled the tail end of its run. The Sandbox Collective had just completed its first weekend SandboxFest 2020 with Every Brilliant Thing and was set to launch Lungs. Repertory Philippines’ Anna in the Tropics, and Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group’s The Band’s Visit did not make it to opening night; Dulaang UP’s Nana Rosa, and Ateneo Blue Repertory’s Next to Normal canceled their remaining shows; GMG Productions’s Matilda The Musical shut down after its opening weekend.

Philippine Legitimate Stage Artist Group, Inc. (Philstage), which represents 16 professional theater and dance companies, reckons that its members had about 600 matinee and evening performances scheduled this year. The lockdown displaced 1,700 artists and theater production staff. Its estimate for foregone revenue is about P500 million.

“Between cancellations and postponements, our members are basically left with no programming for the rest of the year in the traditional sense — that is mounting shows and live events in bricks-and-mortar spaces for live audiences, and no sources of income,” Philstage vice president and Representative Christopher de Venecia of the fourth district of Pangasinan said in an e-mail.

“Most of our revenue streams come from individual ticket sales and wholesale in the form of show buying and blockbuying, and we haven’t enjoyed strong and constant institutional support to help us underwrite our costs” he added.

A survey conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Finance (DoF) in April found that the hardest-hit sector in terms of revenue losses was the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector with average lost sales of 82.3%. The study assumed that the industry will be closed for nine months this year. (https://lga.gov.ph/media/uploads/2/Publications%20PDF/Presentation%20Material/2020/LU%2019%20NEDA%20Sec.%20Chua.pdf)

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) estimates its revenue hit at about P90 million at least, the cancellation of at least 800 events including outreach programs and festivals; and the disruption to the work of at least 3,000 artists and production staff since the beginning of quarantine.

The staff of CCP’s resident company Tanghalang Pilipino was fearful for the future after it had to cancel the remaining shows of Batang Mujahideen — the last in the lineup for the company’s 33rd performance season.

“Noong nalaman namin na magkakaroon ng quarantine, ang reaction ng staff medyo natatakot at kinakabahan (When we learned about the quarantine, the staff reacted with fear and anxiety),” Tanghalang Pilipino’s marketing manager Juan Lorenzo Marco said in a Zoom interview.

Tanghalang Pilipino artistic director Fernando Josef said the company is waiting on the CCP to reopen before it can return to the stage. “Apektado talaga kami (We are really affected),” he said.

The CCP announced in April that it will be closed for shows and programs until the end of the year.

Mr. Josef said savings will serve the company in good stead, allowing it the luxury of exploring new media that will allow the CCP to expand its reach beyond the physical confines of a theater.

“We still feel a bit safe in terms of being able to survive with the savings of Tanghalang Pilipino. We are not as threatened and helpless as other companies. At the same time, we are studying how to transport live performances from the CCP stage to a new medium and how we can push through our vision and mission as a theater company,” he added.

DIGITAL MIGRATION
While live performances have yet to return to to theaters, artistic creativity retains an outlet online. In recent months, theater companies have made recordings of their previous productions available on the internet, mounted livestream performances as fundraising projects, and conducted online workshops.

Tanghalang Pilipino’s Messrs. Marco and Josef said that the marketing team has been preparing digital promotional materials.

In April, Tanghalang Pilipino launched the #PansamanTanghalan series on its YouTube channel with selected musical numbers from its original productions. In June, it launched #PantawidNgTanghalan on iWant featuring six original productions in a fund-raising effort “to sustain the company’s commitment to bringing artistically-excellent and socially-relevant productions to the public.”

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), which had to cancel 75 dates across three scheduled productions this year, also began to produce free online content through PETA Theater Online, which audiences could access and engage with via PETA’s social media platforms.

“The pandemic has shut down anything that requires a live audience, and that may be for a while. So making shows available online allows the company to be virtually in touch with its audiences, especially during this time, bringing people together, hopefully helping them feel less alone,” Maria Gloriosa Santos-Cabangon, PETA’s executive director, said.

The CCP, meanwhile, brought out of the vault shows it had been digitizing initially for archival purposes.

CCP Vice-President and Artistic Director Chris B. Millado said in a Zoom interview that the CCP’s online content will be transferring from YouTube to Vimeo in August for a subscription fee. The YouTube channel will be maintained for selected free content.

“This is our way of making our work sustainable. Whatever fee that comes in there will continue to fund activities in the future. And hopefully this becomes a fund that will be able to remunerate our artists, and at the same time, be viable to performing arts companies that are shifting content online. So it becomes a template or business model for them too,” Mr. Millado said.

In June, the CCP eventually went ahead with VLF with live-streamed performances, while offering recorded performances on Vimeo for a fee.

Vimeo was also tapped for fund-raising projects that included online performances and workshops.

In May, Philstage, SPIT MNL, Third World Improv, the Theater Actor’s Guild, and Artist Welfare Project, Inc. (AWPI) oranized the Open House fundraising project, which has disbursed P858,000 to support 429 displaced workers; while online concert series fundraiser Bayanihan Musikhan, initiated by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, raised more than P122 million in cash and kind to help the urban poor affected by COVID-19 crisis.

Full House Theater company’s streamed Ang Huling El Bimbo,which gained 7 million views during its free 48-hour stream on YouTube in May, raised funds for ABS-CBN Foundation to benefit families affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

“At the moment, it’s really about migrating online and being able to monetize our content. The free model that was employed by Open House which encouraged donations through several channels is not sustainable as halfway through the two month-long fundraiser, we started experiencing donor fatigue. It’s understandable since audiences are logically tightening their purse strings because of uncertainty with quarantine and the new normal,” Mr. De Venecia said.

“Our members are exploring other ways, beginning with those like Repertory Philippines, PETA, and Twin Bill productions who will be offering online summer workshops. We’ll be monitoring these closely in the coming months to see if a pay-per-view or pay-to-participate model will be sustainable for the industry in the new normal,” he added.

“Our well-loved REP Workshops for the Performing Arts are going online and we have a lot of enrollees, from our loyal base of workshop students and new ones as well. The online workshops will also provide a good financial avenue for our workshop teachers,” Repertory Philippines Artistic Director Liesl Batucan said in an e-mail.

According to Ms. Santos-Cabangon, venue rentals are also being explored as a possible source of revenue.

“PETA Theater Center spaces which includes the black box theater and studios (could be rented out) for video and photo shoots, etc. The Center also has an open-air roof deck available for outdoor events. PETA has already set guidelines for venue use based on the safety protocols issued by the Department of Health (DoH),” she said.

ADJUSTING TO NEW REALITIES
The CCP is currently preoccupied with the safety of artists using the venues, while precautions for the visiting public are still being discussed.

“Our production and exhibition department has started to come up with protocols regarding ushers since they are the first to greet and come in contact with guests,” Mr. Millado said.

Mr. Millado said one of the measures being looked at is keeping seats at least one meter apart. “We still have to make a decision in terms of physical distancing as it applies to audiences who might walk in.”

Another option is also mounting “hybrid shows” with performances that are physically distanced without a live audience but streamed online.

Philstage has joined a new alliance of the live-events industry, the National Live Events Coalition Philippines (NLECPh). The alliance is currently drafting a safety manual for the performing arts, production designer and Philstage associate artistic director Mio Infante said.

“We are currently working on it and presenting it (for accreditation) to the DoH, Department of Trade and Industries (DTI), and Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), so that they understand that we are also working on our end to get ourselves heard,” Mr. Infante said.

The manual provides guidance on return-to-work safety and sanitation, interactions, pre-production, rehearsals, and audience health.

“Aside from the fact that when you are ready to open, how is your consumer confidence? Will you have people to watch your shows? You have to prepare for it,” he added.

Citing lessons from the the lockdown, Mr. De Venecia said: “Given that the arts is always a response to the times, we’re expecting the majority of our works to be influenced and inspired by the events that took place during the quarantine and the new normal. You can expect that the creative hunger of our artists are alive more than ever.”

The fitness industry is stuck on a treadmill and yearns for ‘essential service’ status

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

WIDELY CONSIDERED a growing industry before the pandemic, fitness centers ground to a halt during the lockdown, with indoor workouts in close proximity to other users deemed a high-risk activity. Gym owners are still hoping for an eventual rebound, but are resigned to the fact that they may have to drastically change their ways.

A market intelligence firm, Ken Research, estimated that the fitness industry in the Philippines was headed for a period of accelerating growth in an outlook over a five-year time horizon ending 2023, driven by growing health consciousness and awareness of chronic problems like obesity and heart disease.

Ken Research found that the industry grew at a compund annual rate of 7% between 2013 and 2018, marked by the opening of a number of fitness centers, with much of the growth attributed to the need to serve the fitness needs of women. Its forward-looking five-year growth forecast was for compound annual growth of 11%.

“The fitness industry in the country was booming, and it was actually a saturated market. We have all sorts of gyms opening up. We have the big international chains like Gold’s Gym and Anytime Fitness opening up. You also have the small studios opening up that focus on boxing, indoor cycling and combat sports like jiu-jitsu and they are all over. There are also the small grit-and-grind gyms,” said Gab Pangalangan, UFC Gym Philippines marketing manager, in an interview.

“You might find that it’s a crowded space, but there is demand for it as everyone is looking to stay fit, especially in the city where the traffic is bad, people are busy in the office, everyone is looking for an outlet. So fitness is something people want to integrate into their daily lives. And gyms help in that not only in the physical aspect but also the mental aspect. It’s a competitive market,” he added.

Then came COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).

Mr. Pangalangan said industry was not prepared for the pandemic, even though foot traffic started dropping off as early as January, when first reports of the outbreak in China emerged.

Hard-core gym-goers were still coming regularly but Mr. Pangalangan said it semed like “something was on the horizon.”

The fear of going out in public gained momentum in late February and early March, when the first community-transmission cases emerged in the Philippines, forcing the government to declare a public health emergency and a lockdown over Luzon. The measures include the closure of “non-essential” industries, which included gyms.

“The impact was across the board. Some industries are doing better but this pandemic has hit all businesses hard,” said Mr. Pangalangan, who is also a fitness coach and the founder of the combat sports website DojoDrifter.

“The (fitness) industry relies on people to keep it going. It relies on membership sales. It relies on personal training sales. So if there are no people to sell memberships to, there is no revenue. That is a big concern and nobody was really prepared for this. I think no one predicted this happening,” he added.

In the US, major fitness chain Gold’s Gym, which also has branches here, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May.

It was not closing down but just taking “quick, decisive actions to enable us to get back on track.”

Mr. Pangalangan, whose UFC Gym Philippines is a fitness gym and not a fight facility despite being affiliated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, said he now believes some “casualties” in the industry are inevitable.

COACHES, TRAINERS STRUGGLE
Also feeling the sting of the COVID-19 impact are coaches and trainers, who earn most of their income from one-on-one and group training sessions with clients.

“Definitely the pandemic has had a very significant impact on trainers of all types of programs, both group exercise, and personal trainers. Income has taken a big hit. While some have basic salaries, the bulk of what we take home comes from one-on-one and group training. It’s a very different situation now that we’re no longer meeting people on a daily basis,” said freelance fitness coach Richard Mariano.

Martin Casupanan finds himself in the same boat as the trainers, but with a twist — he also owns a fitness gym.

“We can’t open our gym. There is no flow of income, and it’s tough for us as we rely a lot on what we earn from the gym,” said Mr. Casupanan, owner of Premiere Fitness Gym in Bacoor, Cavite.

In June, the industry saw a glimmer of hope when the government, through the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), eased the lockdown settings to a more permissive General Community Quarantine (GCQ) — but gyms remained closed, having been classified as low priority among businesses looking to reopen.

Mr. Pangalangan said it’s a struggle to persuade the authorities to let gyms open.

“If people aren’t convinced that gyms are essential and we are viewed as a form of amusement, then that is a big problem for us,” he said.

Mr. Pangalangan said in the event of a reopening for the industry, restoring confidence among gym users is essential — and so is investment in safety measures and sanitizing equipment.

He said when gyms reopen, he expects distancing, masks, and gloves to be standard, alongside capacity limits and temperature checks.

“As an industry, we don’t want to be a cause of a sudden spike in COVID-19 infections,” said Mr. Mariano, whose freelance practice is affiliated with a number of fitness centers.

THE NEED TO ADAPT
Mr. Pangalangan said one of the ways his company has been adapting is to stay connected with clients online.

“During this time you can see the importance of going digital. If you did not have a website or any digital resource set up then the pandemic was tough. It’s not just about having these things. You have to learn them too,” he said.

He said UFC Gym’s social media accounts saw an increase in followers, including non-members, following the release of free workout videos.

UFC Gym is also offering paid online and personal training classes so its coaches can earn.

“If people cannot go to the gyms for now, we’ll bring the gym to them,” Mr. Pangalangan said.

Messrs. Mariano and Casupanan are also going online.

“While I don’t see the physical gym totally going away as I am sure there are still people willing to go and train in gyms, the industry nonetheless has to start offering services beyond enclosed concrete walls,” Mr. Mariano said.

“I only recently tried doing an online group workout. I hope things pick up. It’s just some close friends and clients for now. I will try to provide online one-on-one coaching after I have a regular group class,” Mr. Mariano said.

“I’m currently doing online coaching to support my day-to-day needs,” Mr. Casupanan said.

As things remain clouded for the fitness industry with COVID-19 remaining uncontained, Messrs. Pangalangan, Mariano and Casupanan said they remain hopeful of better days ahead, while asserting that fitness services are all the more relevant now after the lockdown denied many gym users access to exercise.

“We feel strongly that the fitness industry is an essential service. Pursuit of fitness and health, physical and mental, is important… We feel strongly that gyms have to open. Of course we respect the decision of the authorities but we are just hoping for consideration and be in the conversation to be allowed back,” Mr. Pangalangan said.

“We are at the mercy of this pandemic. If we get things back to what they were before, then I feel gyms will thrive. People are still looking for that outlet. Going to the gym is part of the lifestyle and part of staying healthy. It’s still good to go to the gym. But that’s an optimistic view. It will take time. It’s going to be a tough spot. But I choose to be optimistic,” he added.

“Another thing that COVID-19 has taught us is everyone should be mindful of their health. And gyms can certainly help them with that,” said Mr. Casupanan.

While waiting for the situation to settle, Mr. Pangalangan said the industry has no option but to take a page from the lessons of physical training — and remain strong.

“It’s not about who saves the fitness industry. We have to come together, communicate, set aside alliances and help the industry. To the gym-goers, stay safe and talk to your coaches and help your gyms in any way you can. We are all in this together.”

Cameras roll again in Nollywood but Nigeria’s cinemas still dark

ABUJA/LAGOS — Nigeria’s film industry is creeping back to work after lockdown, and one of the first productions to resume is a new television series about a highly infectious disease that has ravaged the world.

Cameras stopped rolling weeks ago due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 300,000 people worldwide, including 200 in the West African country.

Better known as Nollywood, the multibillion dollar industry churns out movies and TV shows at a rate second only to India’s Bollywood and employs one million people. But productions have had to be stripped right back.

Filming for the TV series Meadows, shot in the capital Abuja, restarted in mid-May after being halted for two months. Its production team, excluding actors, has been cut back to around seven people — around a quarter of the people in a regular Nollywood crew.

“I have to do lots of things myself,” said director Samuel Idiagbonya, who is now also in charge lighting.

The crew wear face masks, actors keep their distance from one another as they deliver their lines and undergo regular temperature checks.

The global pandemic has left Nollywood in deep trouble, according to industry executives and financial analysts.

Cinema closures across Nigeria due to the lockdown have been “catastrophic” for the industry, which gets half of its revenue from ticket sales, according to Bismarck Rewane, who heads the Lagos-based consultancy Financial Derivatives.

Cinemas in Nigeria are still shut indefinitely and the consultancy predicts that up to 250,000 people employed in Nollywood, from designers to box office attendants, could lose their jobs.

Moses Babatope, managing director of Film One Entertainment, believes that the pandemic has caused Nollywood losses of around 3 billion naira ($8.33 million) since mid-February.

An increase in home viewing has boosted sales to streaming platforms including Netflix, but meanwhile revenue from other clients such as airlines has dried up, said Babatope, who is secretary of a film industry body.

The shuttering of the cinema chain he co-founded and which accounts for 60% of his distribution revenue, has forced him to furlough around two thirds of his staff.

“If this goes on much longer, a lot of cinema businesses will struggle to come back, including ours,” said Babatope.

Fred Amata, president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, said social distancing would make most scripts unworkable.

Nollywood’s films are famed for tales of romance and witchcraft and often depict lavish social gatherings that are the bedrock of Nigerian life.

The scene evolved from visual pulp fiction and poor production in the 1990s to a thriving industry that has grabbed the attention of global entertainment brands.

“It all seems so bleak,” Amata said.

But on a mild Wednesday evening in May, a crowded car park in the capital Abuja offered a potential ray of hope as tens of cars lined up facing a big screen — one of around a dozen drive-in cinemas which have popped up around the country.

Charles Okpaleke, the producer behind the Abuja site, said he wanted to respect both cinema and social distancing in a way that was financially viable.

“In every setback there’s an opportunity,” he said. — Reuters

Coronavirus poses existential threat to some of world’s museums — UNESCO

PARIS — The coronavirus lockdowns have hit the world’s museums very hard and more than 10% may never reopen while others will have to put new projects on hold, the United Nations’ cultural body UNESCO said.

A survey of almost 1,600 museums in 107 countries by the Paris-based International Council of Museums (ICOM), which is affiliated with UNESCO, showed that almost all museums around the world were closed because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

The private museum sector fears numerous bankruptcies in the coming months. In African, Asian and Arab countries, more than a quarter of museums fear they may have to close for good, the survey showed.

“Even losing one museum, one cultural center or one theater will affect diversity,” said Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, UNESCO Assistant Director-General.

Many major institutions such as the Prado in Madrid get more than 70% of their income from tickets sold to tourists and the months-long closures caused by the pandemic would weigh on their finances for years to come, he said.

Many developing countries and those emerging from wars will see progress set back many years, Ottone Ramirez said, citing Somalia and other African countries where UNESCO has been helping local authorities to set up museums.

In the Philippines, Indonesia, Montenegro and Iraq, among others, several new projects have ground to a halt.

“It will take time to recover the progress made in the last 20 years,” Ottone Ramirez said. — Reuters

Pandemic to accelerate adoption of automated processes

By Jenina P. Ibañez, Reporter

When canned food company Mega Global Corp. studied the new workplace physical distancing rules, it estimated the drop-off in productivity at 50% at least. So it decided to bring in robots.

Mega Sardines Vice-President for Business Development Michael Tiu Lim said the company had already automated processes like fish cutting to minimize contact with the food, and was planning to expand further. The pandemic, and the resulting adjustments to workplace safety, accelerated these plans.

“We’re just waiting for (lockdown) to be lifted but once it’s lifted, within one year’s time most of us if not some of us (in manufacturing) will have some form of automation in place… So it’s just a matter of fast-tracking some of these plans.”

He said the company does not want to remove jobs in favor of automation, but it will have to do so to continue producing quality goods within the safety norms.

That trend might accelerate the job losses that were already high when the lockdowns forced businesses to close, leading to a second wave of layoffs.

Employment in the Philippines started falling after lockdown measures ground business to a halt. The total number of unemployed hit at least 7.3 million in April, for record jobless rate of 17.7%. At least 40,000 overseas Filipino workers have been repatriated due to the pandemic.

Mr. Lim said fully automating the company’s facilities could cut employment by up to half.

“Equipment doesn’t get sick. Maybe they need down time, but they don’t get sick,” he said.

SAFE OPERATIONS
Physical distancing measures are being applied globally in an effort to protect people from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While employers wait for a vaccine, the private sector has been looking at all the possible ways to operate safely.

Some companies are trying to mitigate the workplace risk by offering rapid antibody tests, though doctors have warned that these tests produce high false positive rates.

Many others are thinking of taking the automation route.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Southeast Asia Technology and Innovation Specialist Sameer Khatiwada said that the bank had projected in 2018 that technology will impact routine jobs in the manufacturing and services sectors. He expects the pandemic to hasten this trend.

More than 40% of business leaders in a 45-country survey conducted by auditing firm Ernst & Young released in March said that they are accelerating investment in automation in response to the crisis.

But just because businesses can automate, does not mean that they will.

“This will depend on the cost,” Mr. Khatiwada said in an e-mail.

“Businesses will weigh labor and other costs associated with hiring workers against the cost of acquiring and maintaining a new machinery or an AI (artificial intelligence) enabled service delivery system.”

COST OF TECHNOLOGY
Electronics exporters, for now, are prioritizing returning to their previous levels of production after manufacturing operations were disrupted by lockdown restrictions.

Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) President Danilo C. Lachica said the sector has always been moving towards expanding automation, and that companies will look at using these technologies to improve physical distancing.

But he also expects a combination of automation and manual labor in the industry.

“It’s cheaper to do it manually than maintaining the robots — expensive parts and all that. So it has to be a good balance. You don’t just automate for the sake of automating.”

Automation is less expensive than it was a decade ago, according to Allan S. Angeles, the president of industrial automation company Tenshi Technology. He said China started producing cheaper equipment and now accounts for up 60% of the automated systems in Philippine manufacturing.

Mr. Angeles cited as an example surgical mask production, where machines can easily outpace human workers, 10 of which can make around 100,000 masks a month, he said.

“When you do it fully automated, only three persons can produce three million in one month.”

MIGRATING TO WHERE THE FUTURE JOBS ARE
Automation, for some sectors, moves job availability from one area to another. Mr. Khatiwada said that as retail moves to e-commerce, there will be fewer people needed to work in malls and shop floors but there will be bigger demand for delivery drivers.

For manufacturing, he said training institutions will have to adapt to changing labor demand.

Mega Sardines’ Mr. Lim said that if he automates the jobs of 200 people, he will hire five to work on the machines that replaced them.

“It won’t be at the same level. Yes, we’ll probably create 10 jobs, 20 jobs but we’ll probably lose 10 times more (than) that.”

And the training available for the highly technical automation jobs does not provide the needed skills.

Tenshi’s Mr. Angeles said the graduates he hires to work on industrial automation systems are largely unprepared for the challenges.

“Karamihan ng mga engineers natin, technicians natin… pagka pinasok mo kaagad sila sa (multinational), almost zero knowledge sila. Ite-train pa sila ng company (Most of the engineers and technicians who join multinationals have almost zero knowledge and need to be trained by the company),” he said.

He added that one possible response would be to create an automation industry of our own, which would require related industries like steel to ramp up if a company is to build the machinery domestically some time in the future.

The payoff would be an employment boom in the automation industry, to perhaps double its current level of about 5,000 workers.

The Philippine manufacturing sector in total, according to 2017 government data, employed over 1.2 million people.

LOSING BARGAINING POWER
The pace of automation will be dictated, at least in part, on what the pandemic does to the cost of labor.

“If keeping a large number of workers in a confined space becomes more costly in terms of healthcare measures that will need to be undertaken, then businesses will rethink their production lines,” ADB’s Mr. Khatiwada said.

The history of pandemics before COVID-19 typically saw wages rise because surviving workers had to pick up the slack and do the work of the dead, giving them more bargaining power.

According to Rene E. Ofreneo of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations, the immediate concern is the millions of jobs being lost now, noting that the pandemic will have a years-long effect on employment, especially if there are waves of reinfection.

“Ang bargaining power ng labor ngayon is so weak. In fact, nakakaawa (The bargaining power of labor right now is weak, and pitifully so).”

He also wonders if health safety measures could spell the end of contractualization — the illegal practice of maintaining staff on short-term contracts, which denies them a path to permanent-employee status and the resulting protections and benefits.

It is possible, he said, that companies applying physical distancing will prefer to retain a small number of versatile staff, throwing out of work large numbers of contractual employees who have to work in close proximity.

JOB CREATION
The pandemic, Mr. Ofreneo said, has the potential to shift the global manufacturing supply chain.

He said the economic downturn caused by the pandemic could cause more countries to apply protectionist measures, with developed countries reshoring production previously located in cheap-labor countries.

“Tinamaan ang global value chain ng mga multinationals… diyan nakadikit ang ating mga semiconductors, electronics, auto parts. Nagkakaroon ng restructuring. (The global value chain was hit by the pandemic, and that’s what our semiconductor, electronics and auto parts industries are attached to).”

“Some countries like (the United States)… have become very protectionist… technology is giving them a means to make this happen.”

He said for some time now jobs in the Philippines have been migrating to the US or Germany for on-demand production.

The global supply chain had been shifting because of the US-China trade war, with some multinationals considering reshoring manufacturing based in China or moving these operations to Southeast Asia.

SEIPI’s Mr. Lachica said that electronics multinationals temporarily moved some operations out of Philippines after facilities that were unable to fully operate during the lockdown, but he believes that the right incentives regime could keep attracting new foreign investment into the country.

To create jobs, Mr. Ofreneo said the Philippines should focus on moving up the value chain, and expanding industries geared towards the domestic market.

“Everywhere is very grim. In a situation like this, napakahalaga ng papel ng gobyerno (the government’s role will be critical),” he said.

“They are in a position to create jobs. That’s why bakit ganun pa rin ang obsession -— ’yung campaign for foreign direct investment (I am wondering why the obsession remains with FDI). I’m not against it (but) assuming may makuha kang magiinvest… bago manganak ng trabaho ’yung investment siguro two to three years (It will take two to three years for such investment to translate to expanded jobs)… What we need are jobs now.”

ADB’s Mr. Khatiwada believes the government infrastructure program will create plenty of construction jobs, despite the challenges on job creation from advances in robotics and computing power.

“We should not be pessimistic. New and better jobs will also be created,” Mr. Khatiwada said.

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