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Filipinos shift to e-payments, online banking amid lockdown

By Luz Wendy T. Noble, Reporter

BANKS and payment firms have seen a surge in online transactions amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon.

During the lockdown, lenders said they observed a rise in account openings as well as fund transfers as limited businesses maintained physical working hours, including banks.

Just two weeks after the lockdown started, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) observed a more than 25% increase in retail digital transactions which included interbank transfers, transactions with e-commerce partners, as well as bills payments, the lender said in a statement.

Interbank transactions made through InstaPay increased 50% to 300,000 from pre-quarantine levels, according to BPI Chief Digital Officer Noel A. Santiago.

“In the last two weeks of March, BPI, through its retail digital platforms, facilitated more than 1.5M transactions with a total value of close to P8 billion,” Mr. Santiago said in a statement.

The internet has become a crucial tool for clients during the ECQ period, according to Philippine National Bank (PNB) President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso.

“The lockdown has made clients realize the importance of mobile banking applications for their transactions. The use of Internet has become more crucial than ever,” Mr. Veloso said in a statement to BusinessWorld.

According to Mr. Veloso, clients who have enrolled their accounts for mobile banking increased 14% from March 16 to April 7 versus average levels before the lockdown.

He also noted that there was a 13% increase in financial transactions, including fund transfers.

Mr. Veloso said that the current situation has pushed PNB to convert more passbook customers to automated teller machines (ATM) and to enrol them in online banking.

“We are also getting more online merchants [to] get PNB accredited to allow our customers to transact with more companies,” he said.

The rise in online transactions came as Filipinos need cash amid the lockdown, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) said.

“With the restricted mobility allowed to the public and the limited operation of bank branches, there is little option but to turn to digital products,” Angelito Lito M. Villanueva, RCBC executive vice-president and chief innovation and inclusion officer, said in a text message.

He said RCBC’s send cash feature, which allows clients to transmit cash to unbanked recipients, also saw a 156% surge in transactions as of end-March compared to pre-ECQ levels.

“The marked increase indicates the need for more liquidity during this difficult time,” Mr. Villanueva said.

UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. also observed growth in digital transactions during the ECQ.

“For the month of March, UnionBank logged a nearly 160% [growth] in daily sign-ups to its online and mobile banking portals, and enabled more than 500,000 credit card transactions and well over 1 million Instapay and PesoNet fund transfer transactions,” the bank said in a statement.

CASH-HEAVY SEGMENTS TURN TO E-PAYMENTS
Previously cash-heavy segments related to basic necessities recorded a rise in digital transactions in the past weeks, said Shailesh Baidwan, president of digital payments firm PayMaya Philippines, Inc.

Moreover, Mr. Baidwan said they have observed more small businesses and freelancers using the PayMaya app for transactions with clients during the lockdown.

“Digital payment transactions with pharmaceuticals posted the biggest month-on-month growth in March from February. We also observe consistent growth in certain retail segments such as groceries,” Mr. Baidwan said in an e-mailed response to BusinessWorld.

Meanwhile, transaction volumes related to travel, hospitality and tourism edged lower due to restrictions meant to contain the virus outbreak.

The platform, he said, has also been tapped by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that sought to continue delivering their services amid the temporary shutdown of their regular operations.

“Brick and mortar restaurants, smaller online food specialty stores, fresh and frozen produce suppliers and the like are now offering online ordering and deliveries,” he said.

Likewise, Mr. Baidwan said freelancers and professionals have been creating PayMaya accounts to accept payments digitally.

Meanwhile, CIMB Bank Philippines initially saw a decline in new account enrolments at the onset of the lockdown, but this has since rebounded.

“Our acquisition for new customers continues to be healthy after a momentary dip immediately after the implementation of the Luzon-wide ECQ. Now we are back to our pre-ECQ numbers,” CIMB Bank Philippines Chief Executive Officer Vijay Manoharan told BusinessWorld in a statement.

Mr. Manoharan said the ECQ has made Filipinos more inclined to try online banking.

“This will hopefully pave the way for more Filipinos to transition into all-digital banking solutions,” he said.

Stuff to do at home (04/17/20)

CCP Online

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) offers recordings of its shows through CCP Online. Philippine Madrigal Singers: MMMM…MORE! will stream on April 20, 3 p.m. The BULAWAN: The CCP 50th Anniversary Gala Concert which was held in September 2019 is also now online. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/culturalcenterphils.

Livestreamed Twelfth Night

C.A.S.T (Company of Actors in Streamlined Theatre) offers a live streamed reading of an abridged version of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on April 18, 4 p.m. The live online reading features Mako Alonso, Reb Atadero, Cathy Azanza-Dy, Maronne Cruz, Tarek El Tayech, Wanggo Gallaga, Nelsito Gomez, Jill Peña, Dean Rosen, and Brian Sy. For details, visit https://www.facebook.com/OpenHouseFundraiser.

Andrea Brocelli’s Music for Hope

Listen to all the songs from Andrea Bocelli’s Easter Sunday concert Music for Hope at the Duomo cathedral in Milan, Italy on AndreaBocelli.lnk.to/MusicForHope1FP.

Phantom of the Opera online

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 25th anniversary production of Phantom of the Opera will stream for free on April 17, on his new YouTube channel, “The Show Must Go On.” Filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011, the show stars Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom and Sierra Boggess as Christine. It will be available for 48 hours. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag.

MoMA free courses online

After offering virtual tours, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is now offering free online courses beginning April 15. The courses include a series of five free classes for contemporary art, fashion, and photography. It includes readings and exercises which can be completed within 12 to 38 hours. For details, visit https://www.coursera.org/moma.

Celebrities read children’s books

Enjoy reading time with the kids as celebrities read children’s stories online. Watch Eddie Redmayne read Julia Donaldson’s Zog about a clumsy dragon who wants to be the best student in his class (https://www.facebook.com/MagicLightPics/videos/247819456374650/). Chris Evans reads Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Dog a Donut (https://www.facebook.com/cevansonline/videos/214260509657142/). Kate Winslet reads Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham (https://www.facebook.com/campbestival/videos/253265512478422/).

Print & Play activities for kids

Keep kids entertained with new curated Print & Play activities from HP. The activities, from craft making and mazes, to dot-to-dot drawing and puzzles are suitable for ages two to 12. With HP Print & Play, parents can choose from a range of activities that are best suited to their children’s needs to achieve the best possible learning outcomes. To try the activities, visit https://www8.hp.com/ph/en/printers/printandplay/index.html?jumpid=va_u19mhncewr.

Disney on Broadway online

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway will stream online for free on April 17 at 7 p.m. (April 18, 7 a.m. in the Philippines) for the benefit for its COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/BCEFA.

Harry Potter exhibit online

The British Library’s Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition is available online through Google Arts and Culture. Its features include video clips and sketches, and a Q&A with exhibit curator Julian Harrison. To view, visit https://artsandculture.google.com/project/harry-potter-a-history-of-magic.

PETA’s Let’s Get Creative

PETA Theater’s online workshops are back with a new lineup of activities. On April 17 (3 p.m.), join actor and designer John Moran for an arts and crafts workshop. To watch, visit https://www.facebook.com/PETATHEATER.

Royal Albert Hall concerts online

The Royal Albert Hall brings concerts online for free through the series called Royal Albert Home. New concerts will be uploaded daily until April 17. To watch and view the full list of shows, visit https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/series/royal-albert-home/.

The National Theater online

London’s National Theater offers free plays online on its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDq1XzCY0NIOYVJvEMQjqw). Watch an adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre until April 16. On April 17 (2 a.m. Philippine time), the theater will premiere an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

New free plays on Thursdays

The National Theatre in London brings its shows to YouTube. Every Thursday (7 p.m. GMT/2 p.m. EST), National Theatre at Home will release a new play free to watch for one week. It includes cast and creative interviews and post-stream talks. The remaining shows are Treasure Island on April 16, and Twelfth Night on April 23. For more information, visit https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home?queueittoken=e_safetyevent25mar20~q_b79a6e28-67d9-44de-88e6-29cedc812122~ts_1585490458~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_8c7928d22caa971981f7edf53563d20e2fe8f68a3a3a1458b34b1cb17f11b50b.

The Nanny’s Pandemic Table Read

The cast of the 1990s comedy sitcom The Nanny reunites for The Pandemic Table Read of the show’s pilot episode. It stars Fran Drescher as Fran Fine, a beautician who finds a job as a nanny to the three children of wealthy widower and theater producer Maxwell Sheffield (played by Charles Shaughnessy). To watch, visit Sony Pictures Entertainment’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3a6KuP1X14&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1eEwvK0A7lrLMnt2GTXBPoDR7y8_Q5TXMexTLIo9es9Gei4W1Yi-asITM.

Hogwarts online

Hogwarts Is Here is an online version of the Harry Potter series’ magical school, created by Harry Potter fans, that allows visitors to take courses like the characters from J.K. Rowling’s book series. Among the various courses are Astronomy, Herbology, History of Magic, and Transfiguration. The website also includes a forum, groups, and library feature. Visit http://www.hogwartsishere.com/.

Free Nikon photography class online

Nikon is offering free online photography classes until April 30. Topics include fundamentals of photography, shooting for landscape, portraiture, music videos, and speedlight control. To participate, visit https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/nikon-school-online/.

Science experiments at home

Try to do 44 science experiments at home with the kids with the James Dyson Foundation Challenge cards. To download the challenge cards, visit https://www.jamesdysonfoundation.co.uk/resources/challenge-cards.html.

PETA’s Charot! The Unwanted Prequel

Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) launches episodes of Charot! The Unwanted Prequel once a week at its official Facebook page. The story is a prequel to its play, Charot! The Musical. The prequel is set in a country known as “P.I.,” which is governed by Papsy, as the nation deals with the “Charona veerus.” New episodes will be uploaded on PETA’s official Facebook page weekly. Aside from online content, the theater company is also conducting two donation efforts. One for the distribution of rice to 300 families in Brgy. Kristong Hari, Quezon City; and another for medical equipment such as personal protective equipment for the frontliners of East Avenue Medical Center. To stream the show and for more information on donation efforts, visit https://www.facebook.com/PETATHEATER/.

Color Manolo Blahnik designs

Shoe designer Manolo Blahnik shares a selection of his original sketches in an online coloring book. The shoe designs are downloadable at https://www.manoloblahnik.com/gb/smile.html.

DUP’s plays online

Three Dulaang UP plays — Floy Quintos’ The Kundiman Party, Ang Nawalang Kapatid, and Nick Joaquin’s Father’s and Sons — are now available for streaming on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm2k83BMK9Fq39P6yJH9lng.

Podcasts on Philippine crime

Stories After Dark features podcasts on Philippine true crime and mystery stories. It currently has 14 episodes including The Maguindanao Massacre (2009), The Ozone Disco Fire (1996), and Pepsi Paloma: Rape or Publicity Stunt? Suicide or Murder? (1982/1985). To listen, visit https://www.facebook.com/storiesafterdarkph/.

Palacio de Memoria virtual tour

Art and history enthusiasts can now go on a virtual tour of Palacio de Memoria, the Colonial Revival mansion, and marvel at its luxurious facilities and hundreds of Euro-Filipino paintings, sculptures, art displays, and historical pieces online. It features the showroom of Palacio de Memoria’s auction house, Casa de Memoria, which houses the Lhuillier family’s collection of antiques, the Mosphil Lounge, and a passenger plane that was refitted to be a lounge for special occasions. To view the Palacio de Memoria’s virtual tour, visit https://www.palaciodememoria.com/tours.

Intramuros virtual tour

Visit the sites of Intramuros through its virtual tours at https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/intramuros-administration?fbclid=IwAR0aRtUOboFvmpk73FwjO_OZBBD5OKRfoFBWUOGgPAUUpaA7DquxNG0Jlks. The walled city’s sites may also be visited through the Experience Philippines augmented reality app. The app is free and available on Google Play or the App Store.

Photography workshops with Canon PH

Canon Philippines is offering photography workshops for the month of April via its official Facebook page. The workshops will feature Canon brand ambassadors and professional photographers who will tackle basic to advanced techniques, and specialized topics such as food, architecture, wedding, and music events photography, and vlogging. View the workshop schedule at https://www.facebook.com/canonphils/photos/a.436807569702668/2967524323297634/?type=3&theater.

MSO’s music online

The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) presents Ennio Marricone’s “Nella Fantasia” from The Mission (1986), which was recorded separately by its musicians while in quarantine, in the hope that it brings some comfort to the listener’s soul. To listen, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceKQHi-9OKQ&feature=youtu.be. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/manilasymphony/.

E-coloring books

The Getty Museum and the Getty Research Institute of Los Angeles offers the “Color Our Collections” edition for 2020. To view, visit http://library.nyam.org/colorourcollections/page/11/.

NFB animated shorts online

Watch animated short films from the National Film Board of Canada at https://www.nfb.ca/animation/.

Silverlens launches Art Boost

To keep in touch with art lovers, Silverlens presents Art Boost, an online drive to maintain engagement with art through social media, exhibition catalogues, and videos. Follow Silverlens’ official social media pages for a series of #athomewith, #weeklyartwork, #trivia, and #sundayread. Visit Silverlens’ official YouTube and Vimeo for artists profiles such as Gary-Ross Pastrana, and Patricia Perez Eustaquio.

National Museum of the Philippines

The National Museum uploaded a coloring sheet of Juan Luna’s Spoliarium by Bryan Ferrer which may be physically or digitally colored. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/nationalmuseumofthephilippines/posts/3123148164376147.

Children’s books online

Enjoy digitized children’s book titles from the University of California (UCLA)’s children’s book collection at https://archive.org/details/yrlsc_childrens&tab=collection; and University of Florida’s digital collection of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature at https://ufdc.ufl.edu/baldwin/all/thumbs.

Five-hour museum tour

Experience a five-hour tour in Russia’s Hermitage Museum, shot by filmmaker Axinya Gog on an iPhone 11 Pro. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=49YeFsx1rIw&feature=emb_title.

Guitar lessons with Fender

Fender is offering three months of free lessons for guitar, bass and ukulele. It includes high-resolution videos with teachers, and a progress tracker. Follow along to videos, and practice at your own pace with the adjustable scrolling tablature and a metronome. To sign up, visit https://try.fender.com/play/playthrough/?utm_source=bouncex&utm_medium=popup&utm_campaign=PlayThrough_BXPopup&utm_term=fender&src=emaill00DTplaypopup/

Toei anime on YouTube

Japanese animation studio Toei’s YouTube channel will stream shows for free. Seventy shows with English subtitles have been released including episodes of National Kid (updated on Mondays) and Suki Suki Majo Sensei (updated on Tuesdays). To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/ToeiAnimationUS.

Educational TV shows return to ABS-CBN

ABS-CBN brings back 1990s educational TV shows every Saturday. Sineskwela (8:30 a.m.) explains topics on science, Bayani (9 a.m.) is about historical figures and events, and Hiraya Manawari (9:30 a.m.) which focuses on values.

Cirque Du Soleil online

Enjoy free 60-minute specials from shows such as Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities, O, and Luzia. To watch, visit https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueconnect.

Ayala Museum online

Continue learning at home with the Ayala Museum’s resources available online. Enjoy previous exhibitions and performances, coloring pages, and playlists. Visit https://www.ayalamuseum.org/online-resources/?fbclid=IwAR2psdA2kvBhhEC-iJs-seLvPXICAZ4zWO-bBIwvxjrhuTm18C_0zyOm3VE.

E-books for kids

Expand your kids’ library at home through the BuriBooks app. Titles include books from publisher Adarna House, reviewers, and Filipino textbooks. Access the app via iOS, Android, or a web browser. Sign up via https://buribooks.com/. Enjoy it free for 30 days.

National Gallery of Victoria’s virtual tours

The National Gallery of Victoria has developed several virtual tours. Audiences can view exhibitions such as Companionship In The Age Of Loneliness of New York-based artist Brian Donnelly, a.k.a. KAWS; and the world premiere of Crossing Lines, featuring the works of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Visit https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/channel/.

Ballets at the Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theatre in Russia showcases The Golden Series of classic opera and ballet performances via livestream on the theater’s YouTube channel. Livestreaming began on April 1 with The Tsar’s Bride. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/bolshoi.

Free Murakami books online

Japanese best-selling author Haruki Murakami’s stories are made available online for free at http://www.openculture.com/2014/08/read-five-stories-by-haruki-murakami-free-online.html. Titles include Kino, A Walk to Kobe, and Samsa in Love.

Free books on modern art

Enjoy PDF and ePubs on modern art from the Guggenheim Museum’s archive. The collection includes books on Francis Bacon, Max Ernst, and Mark Rothko. Visit https://archive.org/details/guggenheimmuseum.

Free vet consultations online

Dr. Cyron Sarmiento opened his Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mcejsarmiento) and Twitter (@Cyrooon) accounts for free online consultations. For more inquiries, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/648196199302932/. Consultations will run for the entire duration of the enhanced community quarantine.

Free Japanese courses

The Japan Foundation Manila launched an e-learning program of free Japanese courses. It includes six-month beginner and intermediate lessons on calligraphy, vocabulary, grammar, and conversation. Sign-up for your chosen course at https://minato-jf.jp/?fbclid=IwAR2SrhYV-9nH4Hbc9TbTspxg0t39DH6xtLQ-jz1n1uOkeGMK3bCdL022O8I.

Arts and Culture

Learn something new every day with Google Arts and Culture from virtual tours of sites, and museums to food, fashion, and design. Visit https://artsandculture.google.com/.

Frida Kahlo’s artworks online

View Frida Kahlo’s work online through the Google Arts & Culture platform. The website has 800 paintings, photographs, and objects by the Mexican artist from 33 international museums. To view the exhibition, visit https://artsandculture.google.com/project/frida-kahlo.

Scribd materials for free for 30 days

Enjoy free books, audiobooks, magazines, and documents for 30 days at Scribd. To view titles, visit https://www.scribd.com/readfree?fbclid=IwAR363ywNP9yoBbKJVQFYCtilfGfljPDGeOatqKJgWMV5Pj9-p7j-gkaGOb8.

Classic Pinoy films online

Director Mike de Leon uploaded classic Filipino films from the 1930s to 1960s on his vimeo account, Citizen Jake. Titles include Manuel Silos’ Pista sa Nayon (1948), Gregorio Fernandez’s Kung Ako’y Mahal Mo (1960), and Lamberto V. Avellana’s Aklat ng Buhay (1952). Watch films at https://vimeo.com/user83013343.

Free Neil Gaiman stories online

Best-selling author Neil Gaiman offers free essays, audiobooks, book excerpts, and videos at his official website under “Cool Stuff and Things.” Visit https://www.neilgaiman.com/Cool_Stuff.

Arts BGC at Home

Every Wednesday, Arts at BGC offers creative prompts at the Arts at BCG (https://www.facebook.com/artsatbgc/ and @artsatbgc) and BGC Art Center (https://www.facebook.com/BGCArtsCenter/ and @bgcartscenter) Facebook and Instagram pages. Join the Arts at BGC Community to get in touch with other participants on https://www.facebook.com/groups/artsatbgc.

Ballet and opera free online

The Royal Opera House is showing its performances online through its Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/royaloperahouse/) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/RoyalOperaHouse) pages. Performances include the ballet The Metamorphosis on April 17.

Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries — Quarantine Edition online

Best-selling author of The Princess Diaries Meg Cabot offers The Princess Diaries — Quarantine Edition for free on her official website. Entries are updated daily. Visit https://www.megcabot.com/2020/03/corona-princess-diaries-day-1/?utm_content=122945851&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-67512624694.

NHCP Documentaries on YouTube

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines makes Philippine history education accessible through documentaries on YouTube. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/historymuseumsPH/posts/997233837339314. Titles include: Jose Rizal: Sa Landas ng Paglaya, Apolinario Mabini: Talino at Paninindigan, Kababaihan ng Rebolusyon, and, Gregoria de Jesus: Lakambini ng Katipunan.

Drawing lessons for kids with Mo Willems

Best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems is hosting drawing lessons for kids called “Lunch Doodles” every weekday on YouTube. Each session will be between 20 to 28 minutes long. Mr. Willems is also welcome to questions (send to: LUNCHDOODLES@kennedy-center.org) which he will try to answer during sessions. For sessions of Lunch Doodles, visit https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL14hRqd0PELGbKihHuTqx_pbvCLqGbOkF.

Paulo Coelho’s books online

Best-selling author Paulo Coelho has made his books available for free. Titles include: The Way of the Bow, The Manuscript Found in Accra, and Brida. Visit his blog at https://paulocoelhoblog.com/books-online/.

Shakespeare plays online

Shakespeare’s plays recorded at the Globe Theater are now available for online streaming. Titles include Hamlet and The Two Noble Kinsmen. To watch, visit https://globeplayer.tv/

Learn at home with Scholastic

Scholastic is offering free online courses for levels pre-kindergarten to Grade 6. Duration of the courses is approximately three hours per day. They include writing, research projects, and virtual field trips. The website is accessible on any device. Visit https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

Free opera streaming online

OperaWire will host Nightly Met Opera Streams of the Metropolitan Opera for free. The performances begin at 7:30 p.m. EST and will be available to stream for 20 hours. Visit https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-to-offer-up-nightly-met-opera-streams/. The Paris Opera is also streaming operas for free. Visit https://www.operadeparis.fr/.

Free films on YouTube

Catch Filipino films for free on the following channels: Regal Entertainment (https://www.youtube.com/user/regalcinema/featured); Cinema One Originals (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzggCZVkynvnjNV29L9EccA); and TBA Studios (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChh0rmwGvToBd3owvN2vRMg).

Free online courses

Enjoy 1,500 free online courses from leading universities such as Stanford, Yale, Harvard, and more. Download the audio and video courses (from iTunes, YouTube, or university websites). Topics include archeology, art, finance, writing, law, health, religion, mathematics, and personality development. Visit http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses.

Online yoga classes

YogaPlus offers daily yoga classes via Facebook live. For schedules, visit https://www.facebook.com/yogaplusph/.

Free Broadway performances online

Enjoy your favorite Broadway performances online for a limited time at https://www.broadwayhd.com/.

Virtual tours

Explore museums around the world through virtual tours: the Solomon R. Guggenheim (https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/solomon-r-guggenheim-museum?hl=en); the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour/current-exhibits); the Louvre Museum (https://www.youvisit.com/tour/louvremuseum). View animals such as otters, penguins, turtles, and corals on live camera at https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams.

Caltex offers fuel discounts to frontliners

THE commercial oil brand of Chevron Philippines Inc. has joined other oil companies that offer fuel discounts to medical staff, uniformed personnel, government workers, and even to delivery riders as part of its effort to provide relief to those in the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Caltex Philippines offers a P4.00 per liter (L) discount on gasoline and a P2.00/L discount on diesel during the extended enhanced community quarantine from April 16 to 30.

The fuel discounts are available at participating Caltex stations across the country.

San Miguel Corp’s Petron Corp. also launched discounts for its petroleum products. Qualified customers can have a P3.00/L off on gasoline and a P2.00/L off on diesel.

Meanwhile, Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. extended its fuel discounts to include delivery riders. So-called “frontliners” availing Unioil Euro5 diesel, Unioil Euro 5 gasoline 91, and Unioil Euro5 gasoline 95 and 97 are entitled to P2.50/L, P3/L, and P5/L discounts, respectively.

Seaoil Philippines Inc. earlier introduced P5/L cut on gasoline and P3/L cut on diesel for frontline workers as well.

This week, Philippine oil companies introduced mixed movements on their prices of petroleum products after six consecutive weeks of rollbacks. On average, gasoline prices went up by P0.55/L and diesel up by P0.15/L, while kerosene prices were cut by P0.20/L. — Adam J. Ang

Sun Life supports health workers

SUN LIFE Financial Philippines (Sun Life) has boosted its support for health workers in the front lines of the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) fight by donating protective gear and providing insurance coverage.

In a statement, Sun Life said its support for frontliners includes donations of 8,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) and 7,000 medical and disinfectant supplies to different hospitals across the country through the ABS-CBN Foundation’s Ligtas Pilipinas campaign.

The donations were coursed through its philanthropic arm Sun Life Financial Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), the life insurer said.

Sun Life Foundation also donated oxygen therapy software to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), the research center of the Department of Health (DoH) and the country’s main testing laboratory for COVID-19 infections.

The life insurer said it also provided Life Armor insurance coverage to more than 3,000 frontliners, including doctors, nurses, security personnel and other workers responding to the pandemic and “are registered members of Lazada Philippines.”

Sun Life’s Life Armor insurance provides P25,000 life insurance coverage against accidents and illnesses. The policy is an exclusive product for Lazada members, offering one-year coverage for a one-time payment for as low as P100.

Workers that benefitted from the insurance coverage include those working in Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Leyte Provincial Hospital and Philippine Heart Center.

“Our goal is to provide support for those helping in the battle against COVID-19 while also catering to those whose livelihood has been affected by the current situation,” said Sun Life Philippines CEO and Country Head Chairman Benedict C. Sison.

Sun Life Foundation, along with other companies, also extended P15 million to the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation to aid some 1.5 million families during the health crisis, it said.

“Our whole community is coming together to help the country in any way we can, so we may triumph over this unprecedented challenge,” Mr. Sison, who also chairs Sun Life Foundation, said.

“Sun Life has been the Filipinos’ partner beyond lifetimes and a witness to their resilience and courage for 125 years now. Today, we remain confident that as long as we work hand in hand, we can look forward to much brighter days ahead,” he added.

One happy family

Patay na si Hesus
Directed by Victor Villanueva
Vimeo

Tolstoy started Anna Karenina with the statement: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” I’ll take that as permission to like Victor Villanueva’s darkish family comedy Patay na si Hesus (Jesus is Dead), about a family taking the four or so hours trip down the coast of Cebu, from the island province’s capital and across the strait to Dumaguete City in Negros Occidental to attend the wake of their estranged father, the eponymous Hesus. The setup is obviously Little Miss Sunshine — dysfunctional family piles into a van to take a cross-country trip — but the flavors and ingredients and resulting dish are so distinctly Filipino I’d call this a valid variation on the original.

Where Sunshine’s Uncle Frank sparingly doles out details of his homosexuality, Chai Fonacier’s Jude is militantly upfront, insisting folks call him by his proper name (as opposed to “Mary Jude”) and acting as the patriarch of his own family, down to the fit of jealousy he throws when he learns what his girlfriend Mary (Sheen Gener, who played Insiang in Tanghalang Pilipino’s stage adaptation) has been up to in his absence. Where Sunshine’s Grandpa Edwin spews profanities and talks of his heroin habit, Mailes Kanapi’s Sister Linda stands radiant in her pure white habit and unspoken wide-eyed insanity (between Alan Arkin’s sullen Edwin and Kanapi’s smiling sister I think I’d feel more comfortable — and far safer — with Edwin).

But that’s the crazy stuff; what cements the bits of madness, gives it structure and emotional weight is the parent figure trying to keep it all together. Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear do a fine job as Sunshine’s beleaguered parents, but Jaclyn Jose manages the same task just fine all by herself, though not without cost; as the film opens and a customer orders pork chop at her food stall, Jose’s character takes a large breaded slab of meat out of a serving tray and with meat cleaver in one distracted hand proceeds to mince the chop into ground pork. “Are you all right?” co-worker Domeng (Publio Briones) asks. “Jesus is dead,” she declares matter of factly.

Jose who was known early in her career for her erotic work (Private Show; Takaw Tukso [Passion Play]), later becoming better known for her award-winning dramas (Ma Rosa), here takes a welcome comic turn as Iyay, the family matriarch. Her approach doesn’t seem to differ much in either comedy or drama, and I for one am grateful: she plays the scene simply, going for truth rather than the easy laugh, and the humor emerges with little unnecessary effort. When she breaks the news of their father and the impending funeral trip, baby brother Jay (Melde Montanez) rebels: he can’t go, he has things to do. Iyay’s response is epic mother material: “Tomorrow is your father’s funeral. You can still cancel your plan. The funeral can’t be put on hold. There’s no repeat performance. We can’t dig up the corpse and bury it again just because you had prior plans.” That Jose delivers her showcase speech in the accent and cadences of musical Visayan only makes the moment funnier.

The script by Fatrick Tabada (not familiar with the writer but he’s apparently fond of names as an occasion for burlesque wordplay) and Moira Lang (who — fun fact — worked on this right after she helped Lav Diaz on his ultra solemn script for Norte, the End of History) simmers along nicely; like Jose’s Iyay, it’s the no-nonsense concrete holding the whole thing together. The direction by Victor Villanueva isn’t especially distinctive but it’s clean and clear, which is what a comedy basically needs. Villanueva, I suspect, is hampered by the fact that road trips in the Philippines aren’t necessarily cinematic. Oh the scenery is beautiful (and there’s one overhead shot of the van going up the curves of a drive — the emerald green of Cebu Island to the right, the luminous waters of the Cebu Straits to the left — that’s breathtaking) but as vehicles on long roadways go the film doesn’t contribute anything particular to the genre — the film is really there for the characters and their oddball interactions with each other.

Patay takes a few potshots at the Catholic faith — the death of the family patriarch, the family dog named Judas, Kanapi’s demented nun — but the digs feel more affectionate than angry. Actually the whole film is surprisingly lighthearted despite the morbid premise, or at least wears its grimmer aspects lightly on its sleeve. Not great, but one of the more enjoyable Filipino films of the 2010s. Available on Vimeo on demand.

Lazada, FDFC offer relief for small firms

TECHNOLOGY companies Lazada and First Digital Finance Corp. (FDFC) are launching a financial relief program for micro and small businesses affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The e-commerce and financial technology companies in a press release on Thursday said Lazada sellers can apply for a loan online through the BillEase for Business digital application.

FDFC is the company behind digital credit app BillEase as well as BillEase for Business, the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise financing platform.

The program, called Lazada Seller Financing, is open to Lazada sellers who have operated on the platform for at least six months. The loans will be for online merchants who need capital to operate, based on their sales record before the lockdown.

“The spread of COVID-19 is creating challenges to most businesses today and in particular to online merchants that’s why we launched this program as part of our commitment to financing small business owners during this difficult period,” FDFC Chief Executive Officer Georg Steiger said.

Online sellers can use their Lazada transactions prior to the enhanced community quarantine as their basis for a working capital loan.

The loans will be processed within one banking day. Successful applicants for loans, which are priced between 2% and 3.5%, have a one-month grace period for repayment.

Lazada said it launched the financing program after some lending institutions tightened underwriting standards or limited their lines of credit.

“Several banks have reduced access to credit during the quarantine period,” the statement said.

The zero percent installment program for consumers buying essential goods on the Lazada platform and paying through BillEase has also been extended to the end of the quarantine period on April 30. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Configuring the next normal

Zoom meetings are the rage these days among members of the business community, who are left with no option but to interact virtually during this lockdown season.

Many organizations have resorted to webinars in order to reach their target audience undergoing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). I have attended quite a number of these online seminars, including the recent “eForum on MSME COVID-19 Funding: Government and Private Sector Roles” organized by the Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport), Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Disaster Relief Foundation, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Fintech Alliance Executive Director Griselda Santos said the new normal entails social distancing but still being able to deliver goods and services in a cost-effective and efficient manner. She identified alternative finance, remittance, and insurtech as the most relevant fintech sectors amid the global pandemic.

Philexport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. called for action regarding the serious credit shortage affecting the country. From his talk, I heard for the first time the proposal to use the World Trade Center, Philippine International Convention Center, and other large venues as quarantine facilities — which the government has agreed to implement.

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) President John Carlo Tria disclosed that DCCCII is in talks with PPE manufacturers to help address the anxiety of employees who would be deployed to work after the ECQ is lifted. He warned that MSMEs are not confident in starting up operations right away and would want to wait until a reasonable level of safety is achieved.

According to Small Business Corp. President Luna Cacanando, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has mandated all banks to suspend the loan payments of MSMEs by one month. She emphasized that innovation is key for all MSMEs to respond to the current situation. DTI has a P1.5-billion fund in place for affected businesses, and priority will be given to essential industries like food services, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Yet there are a few essential businesses that have hardly been hit by this once-in-a-century economic crisis. One of them is the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry, which has addressed health-related concerns while serving its customers in the midst of uncertainty. After all, LPG is the preferred cooking fuel in urban Filipino households.

LPG wholesaler South Pacific, Inc. (SPI) and its sister company, retailer Republic Gas Corp. (Regasco), have assured consumers of the unimpeded supply and delivery of their products as well as continued benefits for their workers.

In a Zoom interview, SPI President Iñigo Golingay, Jr. revealed that they have adequate stocks for the potential increase in demand because of their large storage facilities in Batangas and Cebu. A 24-hour incident response team has been set up to address critical situations that may arise during the ECQ period.

Both Regasco and SPI are complying with directives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant government agencies when it comes to the safety of their workforce. They strictly enforce the WHO standards pertaining to physical distancing within company premises, and conduct constant temperature checks of personnel before allowing entry into their terminals and offices. All truck cabins of their clients are also being disinfected thoroughly.

Meanwhile, employees affected by modified work schedules and those who need to be physically present while on duty continue to receive their salaries despite disrupted work programs. These 100% Filipino-owned firms have also released half of the 13th month pay to aid their workers who are experiencing the financial crunch.

FIRST VIRTUAL GMM
The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) will hold its first-ever virtual general membership meeting (GMM) on April 22 through a webinar via Zoom.

Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Jose “Joey” Concepcion III is the invited guest speaker for this GMM and he will discuss the private sector’s latest recommendations to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). So far, the IATF has adopted many suggestions from the business organizations that have been constantly meeting with Mr. Concepcion about the so-called next normal post-ECQ.

 

J. Albert Gamboa is CFO of the Asian Center for Legal Excellence and chairman of FINEX Publications.

Use funds for power plant hosts as consumer subsidy — cooperatives

Rural power cooperatives wanted to tap electrification funds under the Energy Regulation (ER) 1-94 to allow them to further subsidize electricity costs for poor customers affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), after the Energy department ordered the redirection of the funds to help the government in its fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Complying with the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law, the Department of Energy (DoE) ordered the use of all available and unremitted ER 1-94 funds to aid local government units (LGU) in providing relief for those affected, as well as those in the frontline in the fight against the disease pandemic. 

In a statement on Thursday, the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (Philreca) hoped for electric cooperatives (EC) to use the electrification funds to add in their initiative to cover electricity bills of over 3 million poor consumers in the countryside. 

“We hope that distribution utilities will be given access to this Electrification Fund as they have already available records, network, manpower to implement a project for the member-consumer-owners in the host communities – even if they are remitted to LGUs – and allow them to subsidize the electricity bills of marginalized groups in the EC’s franchise area,” the group said.

ER 1-94 sets aside for power plant host communities a one centavo per kilowatt-hour (kWh) take from total electricity sales.

The DoE order would allow LGUs to use the funds to buy medical equipment, providing special risk allowance to health workers and facilitate mass testing, among other COVID-19 response projects allowed by the DoE.

Philreca recently launched its Pantawid Liwanag program that seeks to provide poor households consuming 20 kWh of electricity or below with subsidies for their electricity costs. A total of 86 ECs have committed to implement this program in their franchise areas.

The group clarified that it targets to help out those customers they categorized as “lifeline consumers” or those people who live below the poverty line and use electricity not exceeding 50 kWh. It also aimed to aid those with regular income but have difficulty in paying their electricity bills.

ECs plan to waive their bills falling from the March 26 to April 25 period. 

It noted that more than half of the 121 ECs across the country have already allocated over P118 million for their coverage areas.  

To fund this program, ECs have realigned their budgets from canceled activities, such as annual general membership assemblies and district election of directors. 

Philreca repeated its call to the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to add electricity bills subsidies to the list of benefits under the social amelioration program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

“[W]e hope that the IATF would still consider our appeal for the government to provide financial assistance to marginalized consumers through the electric cooperatives as this would certainly augment the limited capability and funds of the coops,” it said. 

Meanwhile, Philreca also appealed for their power supply agreements with generation firms to be relaxed, including those rules on minimum contracted capacity and other fixed costs, such as capital recovery fee and minimum energy off-take charges, as they cannot fully utilize the contracted capacity this time.

Power cooperatives also wished for their payments of dues and obligations to be extended up until such time they can return to normal and stable operations, not just up to 30 days from the end of the ECQ as prescribed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). 

They also hoped to avail prompt payment discounts despite payments of bills are recently ordered by the ERC to be extended and paid in portions in the next four billing periods. — Adam J. Ang

How PSEi member stocks performed — April 16, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Philippines among the least safe countries during COVID-19 pandemic

Philippines among the least safe countries during COVID-19 pandemic

Shares wipe out recent gains on profit taking

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

PHILIPPINE STOCKS wiped out their gains on Thursday as profit takers entered the market and fear of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prevailed.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) erased 420.45 points or 7.07% to close at 5,525.60 yesterday. The broader all shares index also dropped 181.60 points or 5.11% to 3,370.13.

“The steep decline… shows that the local market is not really on a stable footing yet as investors continue to grapple with the uncertainties brought by the coronavirus,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a text message.

“While a dim outlook for the economy is already expected, the question here is how dim could it get? The duration of the COVID-19 spread in our country is still undetermined, and consequently, the depth of its impact on the local economy,” he added.

In the Philippines, confirmed cases have reached 5,453 as of Wednesday afternoon, where 349 have died and 353 have recovered.

Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said the negative sentiment of investors was driven by the decline in US economic data for the month of March, sounding the alarm on the economic impact of the pandemic.

Philstocks Financial’s Mr. Tantiangco added the drop was led by profit takers after the local market has kept its uptrend for the past month.

“(As of Wednesday), the local market was already up by 28.61% from its March 19, 2020 close of 4,623.42. A 1,322.63-point worth of gains in a little less than a month (made) it ripe for profit taking which occurred (yesterday) amid the economic worries,” he said.

All sectoral indices gave up their gains yesterday. Property led as it lost 264.74 points or 8.62% to end at 2,804.54 at the close of trading. Holding firms removed 385.90 points or 6.59% to 5,466.67; services fell 76.86 points or 5.82% to 1,242.63; industrials shaved off 413.75 points or 5.35% to 7,315.24; financials decreased 61.47 points or 4.87% to 1,198.53; and mining and oil dropped 178.90 points or 3.68% to close Thursday’s session at 4,671.25.

Value turnover inched up to P9.29 billion from Wednesday’s P9.10 billion. Some 679.82 million issues switched hands.

Decliners beat advancers, 153 against 50, while 38 names ended unchanged at the session’s close.

Foreign outflows ballooned to P2.14 billion yesterday from Wednesday’s net selling worth P1.37 billion.

“The selling had conviction today with net value turnover (net of block sales) registering P8.01 billion, higher than the year-to-date average of P5.90 billion. Meanwhile, net foreign outflows were strong posting P2.14 billion, adding fuel to the overall selling pressure,” Mr. Tantiangco said on Thursday.

Peso weakens on BSP rate cut

THE PESO weakened against the greenback on Thursday following an off-cycle rate cut from the central bank and amid a decline on Wall Street.

The local unit ended trading at P50.80 per dollar on Thursday, down 18 centavos from its P50.62 finish on Wednesday, according to data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened the session at P50.73 per dollar. Its weakest showing was its close of P50.80 while its intraday best was at P50.65 against the greenback.

Dollars traded increased to $352.1 million from $248.6 million on Wednesday.

A trader attributed the peso’s drop to market expectations of a more aggressive rate cut, which happened later on Thursday.

“The peso weakened as market participants continued to anticipate deeper BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) policy rate cuts and further reduction in the local reserve requirement ratio,” the trader said in an e-mail.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno told reporters in a Viber message that the central bank has “cut [the] key policy rate by 50 bps (basis points).”

Following this, the overnight reverse repurchase now stands at 2.75% while overnight lending and deposit rates were reduced to 3.25% and 2.25%, respectively.

Mr. Diokno earlier said they are looking at a “deeper cut” to support the economy, with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) being a “once-in-a-lifetime crisis.”

Another trader said the rate cut affected the peso’s close.

“If you cut interest rates, the tendency is the currency weakens,” the second trader said in a phone call.

This came as a “double whammy” as US stocks also weakened, the trader said.

“In the morning, the peso opened weaker as there was risk-off sentiment in Wall Street. There is a slight volatility that’s why the peso saw weakness,” the trader said.

This Friday, the first trader expects the peso to play around the P50.75 to P50.95 range, while the second trader gave a forecast band of P50.40 to P51. — LWTN

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