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TESDA asked to gear up for retraining of jobless OFWs

A LEGISLATOR urged the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide training programs for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) displaced by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

“I call on the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to immediately conduct and scale-up the training programs to retool our displaced workers and OFWs as a result of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron P. Salo said in a statement Thursday.

Mr. Salo said that the government should develop its agriculture sector to ensure food security and self-sufficiency.

“We cannot rely on imported goods, particularly food products. TESDA should develop training programs that will allow our displaced workers and OFWs to become self-sufficient and independent entrepreneurs, such as agro-entrepreneurs,” he said.

He said that “hundreds of thousands” of OFWs are also expected to return home after being displaced from their jobs.

“Now that they are in a difficult position and without much means for their daily sustenance, the government must now carry upon its shoulders the responsibility or duty of ensuring their welfare by providing them with the needed skills that are attuned to prevailing conditions,” Mr. Salo said.

As of April 22, nearly 18,000 OFWs have returned home because of the pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported.

In March, TESDA announced that Filipinos can register and enroll in courses offered for free through e-TESDA or the TESDA Online Program. Available courses include Agriculture, Automotive, Electronics, Entrepreneurship, and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration systems. — Genshen L. Espedido

SEC extends filing deadline for sustainability reports

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is allowing publicly listed companies to submit their sustainability reports for 2019 until June 30.

In a memorandum circular that took effect this week, the corporate regulator said companies whose fiscal years ended on Dec. 31, 2019 or Nov. 30, 2019 may submit their sustainability reports within the next two months.

The sustainability report is a required attachment of every company’s annual report submitted to the SEC. Without it, an annual report submission will be rendered incomplete by the regulator.

“[T]he commission…resolves to extend the deadline for the submission of the (sustainability reports) for (publicly listed companies)… to align the same with the extended deadline of the annual report,” it said.

The SEC issued a memorandum circular in March allowing companies to submit their annual reports until June 30 in view of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

With the new memo, the SEC will not automatically consider as incomplete the annual reports that companies have already submitted without the sustainability report attachment.

Companies that want to amend the annual reports they have already submitted to include the sustainability report are allowed to do so, but they should file it together with a copy of the previously submitted annual report.

“The extension shall automatically be applied without the need for a request from… This extension notwithstanding, (publicly listed companies) are not precluded from submitting their (sustainability reports) together with the annual report on the original deadline (i.e. 105 days after the end of fiscal year or 14 April 2020),” the SEC said. — Denise A. Valdez

SEC shuts down four online lenders

Four online lending companies were ordered to shut down by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for illegally operating business.

The SEC issued a cease and desist order against CashAB, CashOcean, KwikPeso and Little Cash together with their owners CashAB Lending Co., Mimosa Credit Ltd. and Zamoya Credit Ltd.

The companies are alleged of engaging in lending businesses without the necessary license from the corporate regulator.

“The SEC directed the online lending operators, their agents, representatives and promoters, as well as the owners of their hosting sites and all persons acting for and on their behalf, to immediately cease and desist under pain of contempt from engaging in, promoting and facilitating lending activities,” the SEC said in a statement yesterday.

It said these online lending applications access personal information in the mobile phones of borrowers, then use these information to shame the borrower by sending text blasts to contacts to prompt debt payment.

This is in clear violation of several memorandum circulars of the SEC which require lending operators to disclose certain information in their advertisements and prohibit unfair debt collection practices.

The regulator also noted these companies were not granted authority to operate. therefore violating several laws.

One of these is Republic Act No. 9474 or the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007, which requires that a lending company is established as a corporation and should be granted authority by the SEC. For violating this, persons engaged in the identified companies are punishable with a fine of P10,000-50,000, or imprisonment for six months to 10 years, or both.

Another is Republic Act No. 5980 or the Financing Act of 1998, which prohibits financing companies from operating without authority from the SEC. As punishment, they may be fined P10,000-100,000, or imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

“The Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007 was enacted to prevent and mitigate, as far as practicable, practices prejudicial to public interest,” the Commission En Banc said in the cease and desist order.

“The abusive collection practices, misrepresentations, and unreasonable terms and conditions imposed by the online lending operators and their agents and representatives exemplify the practices that as a matter of policy, the State seeks to prevent,” it added.

Apart from closing shop, the SEC also ordered the identified lenders to stop promoting their business and to delete their promotional materials and their lending applications. — Denise A. Valdez

Stuff to do at home (04/24/20)

Cartier Watchmaking encounters

The Maison Cartier launches www.cartierwatchmakingencounters.com, an international consumer website for this year’s watchmaking novelties, on April 25. Visitors will be able to discover various watch designs such as Pasha, Maillon, and Santos XL. The platform will be available in French, English and Chinese. For more information, visit www.cartier.com.

Gardening 101

Nature therapy advocate and founder of creative nature business Plant Project PH Jennie Agcaoili launches Gardening 101, an online series about growing plants while living in the city. On April 25 (4 p.m.), kids and parents can enjoy some quality time together with “Urban Gardening for Kids,” a session that will bring out every child’s green thumb. On May 2 (4 p.m.), Ms. Agcaoili will teach how to grow plants with leftovers with “Re-growing from Kitchen Scraps.” The 45-minute episodes will be streamed on www.facebook.com/AssemblyGrounds. For more information, visit www.assemblygroundsattherise.com. Follow Assembly Grounds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @assemblygrounds.

John Denver Trending on iWant

The 2019 Cinemalaya Film Festival Best Picture winner, Arden Rod Condez’s John Denver Trending, will be available for streaming for free on iWant on April 25.

Moviemov Italian Film Festival online

The Moviemov Italian Film Festival, produced and organized by acplaytown Roma, shows movies in a virtual cinema through My Movies. Some of the directors and interpreters of the selected films, including Laura Luchetti, Fulvio Risuleo, Gianni Di Gregorio, Paolo Calabresi, together with this year’s festival “godmother” Elena Radonicich, will take part at the event with live social and video contributions in the virtual theater to present their films. La Dea Fortuna (The Goddess of Fortune) by Ferzan Ozpetek premieres on April 23 at 9 p.m. (Manila time). Il Testimone Invisible (The Invisible Witness) by Stefano Mordini premieres on April 24 at 9 p.m. (Manila time). For more information and instructions on how to watch films, visit https://www.facebook.com/MoviemovItalianFilmFestival/, and https://www.facebook.com/events/2719489801613065/.

CCP Online

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) will be screening recordings of its shows through CCP Online, including Tanghalang Pilipino’s Batang Mujahideen, written by Malou Jacob and directed by Guelan Luarca, which premieres on April 24, 3 p.m. The show will be available for streaming for a week before it is replaced with new shows. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/culturalcenterphils.

Cooking with Chef Rosebud Benitez

Mega Prime kicks off its partnership with Chef Rosebud through a Facebook Live cooking demo featuring healthy, nutritious, and practical recipes to upgrade everyday meals on April 25 (3 p.m.). Ms. Benitez will be featuring some of her go-to Mega Prime products that can turn simple dishes into special meals. To watch, visit https://www.facebook.com/MegaPrimeQuality.

Screenings at MCAD

The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) launches the online platform Screenings which showcases its programs. Works from the current exhibition, Constructions of Truths, will be on view on its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFWs7Zctmk2Nor8a6W41bRw) for 24 hours starting April 26, 8 a.m. until April 27, 8 a.m. Read more about the exhibition at http://www.mcadmanila.org.ph/mcad-screenings-constructions-of-truths/.

English National Ballet shows online

English National Ballet has launched ENB at Home. It will be releasing one show weekly for its “Wednesday Watch Parties.” The first in the lineup is Broken Wings, a Frida Kahlo-inspired production starring lead principal and ENB artistic director Tamara Rojo as Frida. It will be available to stream for free for 48 hours. Watch at https://www.youtube.com/user/enballet or https://www.facebook.com/EnglishNationalBallet/.

The Royal Ballet shows online

The Royal Ballet in London launches its #OurHouseToYourHouse series where shows can be streamed through its official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/royaloperahouse/. Watch Arthur Pita’s dance-theater adaptation of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis at https://www.facebook.com/royaloperahouse/videos/217068512883588.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies online

Andrew Lloyd Webber is streaming the 2012 Australian production of Love Never Dies as its fourth musical on The Shows Must Go On YouTube channel on April 25 (2 a.m. in the Philippines). Directed by Simon Phillips, the show stars Ben Lewis as the Phantom. and Anna O’Byrne as Christine Daaé. It will be available for 48 hours. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag.

Buyer & Cellar with Michael Urie

American actor Michael Urie reprises his 2013 role in Jonathan Tolin’s one-man comedy play, Buyer & Cellar via the Broadway.com YouTube channel. He plays a struggling actor who takes an unusual job at the Malibu estate of Barbra Streisand. The performance is directed by Nic Cory.

Radiohead Concerts

British rock band Radiohead has been uploading some of its concerts via its official YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/user/radiohead). Fans of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band known for songs like “Creep” (1992) and “Fake Plastic Trees” (1995) can watch the concerts Live from a Tent in Dublin (2000) and Live in Berlin (2006).

David Guetta: United at Home

French DJ David Guetta, the man behind the song “Titanium” (2011) featuring singer SIA, held a live concert fundraiser inside his Miami home on Sunday benefitting the World Health Organization and other charities. The two-hour concert is currently available on his YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/user/davidguettavevo).

Josh Groban concerts

Josh Groban brings his concerts to your home via online streaming every Thursday on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/joshgroban). The second concert in the series, Stages: Live (2016), premieres on April 30 (5 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. ET). The singer has also included commentary throughout each film. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/JoshGroban/.

Worldwide Concert for Our Culture

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s annual Spring Gala: Worldwide Concert for Our Culture is now available to stream online. The honorees of the event are Clarence Otis and Jacqueline L. Bradley (Ed Bradley Award for Leadership in Jazz) and Phil Schaap (Jazz at Lincoln Center Award for Artistic Excellence). Performers at the gala include: Wynton Marsalis, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and Sullivan Fortner, Chucho Valdes, Nduduzo Makhathini, and Baqir Abbas. For more information, visit jazz.org/gala2020. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IjJbZetCvGw.

Dior’s Designer of Dreams exhibition

Dior’s exhibition titled Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams is now available to view online. Originally held at Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs from 2017 to 2018, the exhibition traces the evolution of the house of Dior from post-war Paris to the present through a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the exhibition, plus a virtual tour of its rooms. Visit Dior’s YouTube channel to watch the documentary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1521&v=FLWDWzMrkBE&feature=emb_title).

Frank Lloyd Wright virtual tours

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, in partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Unity Temple Restoration Foundation, is offering #WrightVirtualVisits every Thursdays (1 p.m. Eastern/10 a.m. Pacific time) in participating sites. Check the participating sites at https://savewright.org/news/public-wright-sites-swap-virtual-visits/.

Movie night with Jamie Lee Curtis

Every Saturday (in the Philippines) until May 8, Lionsgate and Fandango’s Movie Clips YouTube channels will be streaming films. The show, called Movie Night with Jamie Lee Curtis, will be hosted by the actress. On April 25, 9 a.m. Philippine time, the show will be streaming Dirty Dancing (1987) by Emile Ardolino. The week after, on May 2, watch La La Land (2016) by Damien Chazelle, and John Wick (2014) by Chad Stahelski. Aside from the screening, Ms. Lee Curtis will also engage with the online audience via real-time chats and movie trivia.

Live poetry reading

Publisher Random House will be holding a live poetry reading program starting April 22, 8 a.m., called “Big Ideas Night.” “Just because we’re stuck inside doesn’t mean our minds have to be… ‘Big Ideas Night’ is Random House’s forum for the curious, where innovative authors and moderators take a deep dive into compelling new books and thought-provoking topics,” the publisher said on the event’s page on eventbrite.com. The event features a “diverse lineup of six voices, each reading and performing their work in five-to-seven-minute intervals,” it added. Poets include Olivia Gatwood (“Life of the Party”), Nate Marshall (“Finna”), Jana Prikryl (“No Matter”), Jenny Zhang (“Sour Heart”), Fatimah Asghar (“If They Come for Us”), and Billy Collins (“Whale Day”). Register for the event for free via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/random-house-x-bustle-presents-big-ideas-night-national-poetry-month-tickets-102990786214?aff=Media on Eventbrite.com and join the Zoom virtual event.

Color Tolkien characters

The official Facebook page of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien has uploaded an illustration of Smaug the Magnificent from The Hobbit Movie Trilogy Colouring Book. Download the coloring sheet at https://bit.ly/2wKY3lp.

Turtle illustration online

The National Museum of the Philippines offers its second coloring sheet to raise awareness about Philippine biodiversity. The coloring sheet was illustrated by Larie Dianco. To download the illustration, visit www.facebook.com/nationalmuseumofthephilippines/photos/a.195151237175869/3165177150173248/?type=3&theater.

The Paris Opera Online

The Paris Opera is offering free ballets and operas for streaming. The scheduled shows are: The Tales of Hoffmann (2016) on April 20 to 26; Carmen (2017) on April 27 to May 3; and the Cycle of Tchaikovsky’s six symphonies played by the Orchestra of the Paris National Opera, conducted by Philippe Jordan, from March 17 to May 3. To watch, visit https://www.operadeparis.fr/.

Business courses online

Business microlearning platform GLOBIS Unlimited offers the teaching experience of Japan’s GLOBIS University through online business education. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, GLOBIS Unlimited is giving free unlimited access to all resources online. Sign up for courses until April 24, and get unlimited access until April 30. For details, visit https://www.globis.ac.jp/unlimited-offer/?_ga=2.19086384.96919973.1587114462-682746198.1585895060.

MoMA free courses online

After offering virtual tours, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is now offering free online courses. 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.

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.

The National Theater online

London’s National Theater offers free plays online at its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDq1XzCY0NIOYVJvEMQjqw).

The Nanny’s Pandemic Table Read

The cast of the ‘90s comedy sitcom The Nanny reunites for The Pandemic Table Read of the show’s pilot episode. It stars Fran Drescher as Fran Fine 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

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

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

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/.

Color Manolo Blahnik designs

Manolo Blahnik shares a selection of his original shoe sketches for coloring. 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.

Mula Sa Buwan online

Livestream selected scenes of Pat Valera’s Mula Sa Buwan at its official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mulasabuwan/) on April 7. The streaming also includes live commentary from the actors of the production.

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.

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 our 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 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.

5-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 has launched its YouTube channel that streams shows 70 shows with English subtitles for free. National Kid is updated on Mondays while Suki Suki Majo Sensei is updated on Tuesdays. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/ToeiAnimationUS.

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.

National Gallery of Victoria virtual tours

The National Gallery of Victoria has developed virtual tours. Audiences can view exhibitions such as Companionship In The Age Of Loneliness for New York-based artist Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS; and the world premiere of Crossing Lines, featuring the works of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat on 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 by Francis Bacon, Max Ernst, and Mark Rothko. Visit https://archive.org/details/guggenheimmuseum.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Anti-social distancing

Once Upon a Time in the West
Directed by Sergio Leone

(Warning: story and plot twists described in explicit detail)

LOCKED down and stewing in your home, it can be something of a relief to look at the works of Sergio Leone, particularly the later titles. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly; Once Upon a Time in the West; Duck, You Sucker!; and Once Upon a Time in America have that expansive feel of a tale told of long ago, a pipe dream concocted by your favorite nutty uncle by the fireside, with the other kids gathered round listening with rapt expressions.

America may be Leone’s most sprawling ambitious work and possibly his masterpiece but West is arguably perfection, impeccably cast and executed. Even the stunt of using Henry Fonda as villain pays off — as the young boy looks slowly about him Leone intercuts shots of his decimated family; enter the killers, emerging from the dust and surrounding brush like wraiths. The killers approach, and at one point the camera following behind swings around to peer at one of the faces, and it’s Mr. Lincoln — sorry, Mr. Fonda, not so Young anymore, as the hired gunslinger Frank. The lined face, the pale blue eyes, so iconic in American films, are pitiless here, faintly contemptuous even.

Later we meet other characters: Cheyenne (Jason Robards) who runs his own gang; Mr. Morton (Gabrielle Ferzetti) who’s crippled but chugs around in his private train car; and the aforementioned Harmonica. No one slaps the other in the arm, or gives a hug, or even offers a kiss; these are all strangers barely met who’d rather stay that way (it helps that Leone builds his sets the size of the myths he wants to depict — that is, several times larger-than-life). Yes, there’s a plague, but not the viral kind — rather it’s paranoia (as a filmmaker [fictional] once put it: “He named the disease.” “Yeah what?” “It’s a social disease, very common.” “Like gonorrhea?” “You’re close. It’s spread the same way, by screwing your fellow man.”). Helps to have everyone stay apart at double arm’s length, or roughly six feet, though that hardly helps when you’re looking at the business end of a gun.

Did I say arm’s length? There’s one notable exception, when Frank’s in bed with Jill. Yes proximity, even extreme proximity, but their minds are hardly as one — Frank is like a racehorse owner admiring the smooth muscles of his recently captured prized filly; Jill is that filly desperately calculating how to at least stay alive, if not escape.

The film is made up of a series of intricate interlocking visual puzzles (the first, the train station gunfight, answers the pertinent question, “Who are the three waiting for?” and the underlying question, “How do you make 10 minutes of screen time where nothing important happens pass entertainingly?”). My favorite and arguably most intricate puzzle involves flashbacks (Harmonica’s, it’s suggested), of a man walking through desert haze. As the film progresses the man comes closer, and we realize it’s a younger, brasher Frank.

At one point — when the dust has mostly settled and all the ancillary characters have fallen bloodily by the wayside — Frank confronts Harmonica. Harmonica flashes back one more time to the younger Frank, who pulls out a — what else? — harmonica. Reverse cut: Frank stuffs the harmonica into a young boy’s face, and from the broad nose and plump tear stained cheeks we somehow recognize a younger slighter Harmonica. The camera cranes up and away, and we glimpse more details: boots heavy on Harmonica’s shoulders (it’s his older brother); a noose tight around the brother’s neck, the other end tied to the clapper of a bell hanging from a stone archway. Harmonica struggles manfully but his brother is almost twice his size and weight; it’s only a matter of time before he collapses from exhaustion and the bell clangs mournfully. Three of Frank’s men flank the brothers, enjoying the spectacle.

The sequence answers a question that must have bothered the filmmaker for a long time: “Can you make a film where one shot answers everything?” With a single soaring shot — arguably one of the most lyrical in all of cinema — Leone explains those maddening flashbacks (halfway between hallucinations and fevered dreams) and the force driving not just Harmonica but the film. One of the most enjoyable of Westerns, and an outsized exercise in musical and visual style — not much more than that, I suppose, but plenty enough for me.

Delayed promotion due to COVID-19

I work for a medium-sized retailer. Our department’s vice-president promised my long-delayed promotion as a reward for my consistent excellent work performance over four years. My appointment papers confirming my managerial status was sent to the CEO for approval in the first week of March, just before the lockdown was imposed by the government to contain the spread of COVID-19. With a possible extension of the lockdown, it appears that my promotion might be further delayed, if not lost in the frenzy caused by this global pandemic. What would you advise me to do? — Disgruntled Anew

An old train was chugging slowly through the countryside when it suddenly came to a stop. There was only one passenger in a car, a traveling pharmaceutical salesman riding the line for the first time. He asked the conductor why they had stopped the train. The conductor said: “There’s nothing to worry about Sir. There’s a carabao sitting on the track and the engineer is prodding it with a stick.”

After about 10 minutes, the train got underway again, but after chugging along for about five kilometers, it again came to a complete stop. “There’s a temporary delay,” the conductor reassured the salesman. “We’ll continue shortly.” The frustrated salesman asked: “What’s the problem this time? Did we catch up with that carabao again?”

Like the traveling salesman, you’re disappointed because your long overdue promotion has been delayed again. This time, however, it’s not the fault of management but of the pandemic that has disrupted almost all business operations around the world. At the outset, I should tell you, we can’t do much against the pandemic except to mitigate its adverse effects to you and your organization.

After all, you don’t have a choice but to wait further until the situation enters the “new normal,” which might then pave the way for your eventual promotion. You can’t ignore the reality of the situation. You may be an excellent worker but if you continue to sulk in the corner pretending to work, that could spell big trouble for you.

Top management may continue to have you for a while because of your proven competence, but it may change its mind to get rid of you and other workers when the business becomes untenable in the near future. Therefore, my advice for you is to stay put and do what you can do best to help your organization overcome the situation as if you don’t have a problem waiting for your long-delayed promotion.

SENSIBLE NEW PROGRAMS
Even if you are well-positioned to achieve that promotion in due time, external events like the pandemic could be everyone’s downfall as well as that of your organization. It’s not easy. Many individuals like you who are in the same situation may simply assume their future is secure because you’ve done a good job. It’s easy to assume that eventually hard work will be rewarded. Unfortunately, that’s not true all the time.

If you’re not alert to what’s going on around you, it’s easy to become an unwilling victim. So, what can you do under the circumstances? In good and in bad times, it’s always an excellent idea to initiate, if not restart a change management program, which may include any or all of the following two techniques that are applicable in retail operations:

Reduce the number of your contractual workers. This may include cashiers and baggers. It may be anti-social and anti-job security, but that might be the only way your retail operations survive. When I say “reduce,” it means maintaining only the minimum number of temps that are critical to your store operations. And if possible, transfer them to other work areas where they could be of better use.

Chances are, you may discover gems among these people, who are equally interested to preserve their jobs. But that’s only if you’re open to assigning them tasks like data encoding, simple bookkeeping, inventory keeping, or doing 5S good housekeeping to organize files and stocks in the warehouse.

Encourage, if not require the workers to acquire new skills. This can be done by enrolling in free online courses appropriate to their interests, like those being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Be upfront with temporary employees that their job security is dependent on their skills, much more if they can’t afford college education. Inspire them to study during their free time, so their minds are kept away from playing those addicting online games.

A positive attitude toward such changes will help you convince other workers to sell to their peers. Remember, your workers are not likely to accept your ideas unless you are convinced that even you can benefit from new training.

Whatever you do, don’t give off any hint of false hope to these people. Perhaps more important than all other challenges in implementing this program is the need to understand there are no shortcuts to success. Solutions may appear to be easy on the surface, but actually doing it may pose some unforeseen difficulties.

Therefore, whenever you plan to make changes, ranging from the way a single task is performed or acquiring new skills, it’s necessary to think about whether you and your management will agree to it. Doing this will help generate both worker and management acceptance of all the changes, which will go a long way toward successful implementation, in good or bad times.

ELBONOMICS: It’s not what you’ve achieved, but what you’ve overcome.

 

Send anonymous questions to elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.consulting

Filipino Chinese group offers protective gear, supplies to hospitals

GROUPS that require medical goods and personal protective equipment may reach out to the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc (FFCCCII) after it had helped raise P267 million to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Wala po kaming pinipili. Lahat ng hospital will be given. Lahat ng humihingi ng tulong … if you need any you could always write to either (FFCCII) or to any Chinese association,” FFCCCII Honorary President Francis Chua said in a briefing on Thursday.

(We’re not picking and choosing. All hospitals will be given. All who are asking for help, if you need any you could always write to either FFCCII or to any Chinese association).

He said FFCCII had imported from China 100,000 testing kits, 80,000 of which are rapid tests. The group also procured medicines, 50,000 personal protective equipment, and a million face masks.

“We just donate it to the different hospitals, the different members of the Chinese community, and also to Filipinos who believe that they will need support from us,” he said.

He said the chamber is in partnership with the government in finding any needed supplies.

The chamber has been working with other groups in the Filipino-Chinese community, including the Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to pool funds. — Jenina P. Ibañez

The emergence of new consumer market segments

Consumers stopped buying many things since the start of the global coronavirus crisis. Malls and retailers closed down. Only certain food deliveries, banks, grocery stores, and pharmacies are open. Businessmen, entrepreneurs, and marketers are struggling to stay afloat, and they will continue to struggle even after the quarantine.

This is because of the unprecedented global crisis that we are facing. People are forced to follow a set of norms, such as social distancing and work from home, for fear of getting infected, making people struggle with day-to-day life

In fact, 70% of residents in Metro Manila are “not managing very well” the situation that we are in, according to the research report of Good Thinking, which surveyed more than 200 cross-section of residents during the period between March 24 to April 3 under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

When asked what aspects make up “not managing very well,” the respondents named financial, mobility/transport, access to basic needs, adjusting to work, lack of social interaction, and safety concerns as the top pain points.

The picture gets bleaker as we move through the ECQ. According to the same report, there’s an apparent decline in the quality of life is during week 4 of the ECQ, with 79% saying they were “not managing very well” compared to just 62% during week 3. Moreover, there’s 9% of the respondents who said they were “struggling very much” during week 4 of the ECQ compared to 0% during week 3.

The unavailability of a universal vaccine for the next 18 months and the looming global recession will just make life more difficult in the coming months, even years. That’s why businessmen, entrepreneurs, and marketers must understand the emergent and overarching need of consumers during these times, that is, the need to cope.

Psychologists define coping as a set of efforts to manage demands that could exceed one’s resources — financial, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual resources. Research on coping have identified five types of coping styles or behaviors, namely problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, seeking-understanding coping, seeking-help coping, and avoiding-the-problem coping.

With these coping behaviors emerge five new consumer market segments that display peculiar buying patterns, namely:

• Problem solvers: this segment actively plans, tries new things, and finds solutions to existing woes. Examples of products and services that this segment buys are everyday consumables that can be purchased conveniently in the community; they try new apps like digital banking, videoconferencing tool, or online marketplace.

• Emotional expressionists: they let their emotions out as evidenced by the copiousness of angry and complaining posts in social media; they engage in virtual meetups, and look for appeasing activities. Examples of products and services that this segment buys are virtual coaching, self-help webinars, virtual dance parties, and self-care products like essential oils and fitness products.

• Understanding seekers: they try to understand the situation that we are in and seek to learn about it; examples of products and services they buy are online courses, webinars, virtual coaching, documentaries on pandemics, and fitness and health care products.

• Help and support seekers: this segment seeks help and support from others to enable them to cope; examples of products and services they buy are virtual coaching and spiritual advisory, financial advisory and insurance, and errands services and apps.

• Problem avoiders: this segment looks for activities to forget the current problems and they act as if nothing is happening; examples of products and services they buy are hobby products such as those in gardening and fitness, liquor, comfort food, popular coffee brands, and entertainment content.

Individuals may vacillate from one segment to another because of the volatile nature of these emotional behaviors of coping. But this segmentation serves as guide for entrepreneurs and marketers to adapt their marketing communication in order to address each segment’s coping needs.

But also note that many of the products and services required now are digital or virtual in nature, may it be a virtual service, an app, or ecommerce platform. Entrepreneurs and marketers should also transform their offerings that take into account the social distancing required by consumers.

 

Reynaldo C. Lugtu, Jr. is CEO of Hungry Workhorse Consulting, a digital and culture transformation consulting firm. He is the Chairman of the ICT Committee of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex). He is the Country Representative of the Institute of Change and Transformation Professionals Asia (ICTPA) and Fellow at the US-based Institute for Digital Transformation. He teaches strategic management in the MBA Program of De La Salle University. The author may be e-mailed at rey.lugtu@hungryworkhorse.com

Economies/areas with the most number of COVID-19 tests conducted

Economies/areas with the most number of COVID-19 tests conducted

How PSEi member stocks performed — April 23, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, April 23, 2020.

Shares snap losing streak as global marts rebound

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

LOCAL SHARES snapped their three-day losing streak yesterday on the back of improved investor sentiment evidenced by a rebound in global markets.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed 25.80 points or 0.46% to close at 5,599.55 on Thursday. The broader all shares index likewise added 20.64 points or 0.6% to 3,408.81.

“The local market rallied with strong leads as crude oil rebounded, providing some support to the market,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile message.

After falling to negative territory at the start of the week, the price of crude oil in the United States recovered by as much as 20%. This resulted in gains in Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices improving 1.99%, 2.29% and 2.81%, respectively, on Wednesday.

Asian markets also performed better on Thursday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix indices rose 1.52% and 1.36%, respectively, and South Korea’s Kospi index increased 0.98%.

Despite a higher close for the local bourse, PNB Securities, Inc. President Manuel Antonio G. Lisbona said investors are still tiptoeing around the situation.

“The market reached a high of 5,672 before weakening at the close to settle at 5,599 which implies an underlying cautiousness among investors,” he said in a text message.

With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic still going on, investors remain on close watch for any development that may drag the market down.

“Immediate support can be found at the previous low of 5,460 and immediate resistance can be found at 5,800,” Mr. Lisbona said.

Sectoral indices at the PSE were mostly gainers on Thursday. Mining and oil grew 55.12 points or 1.21% to 4,609.44; property rose 25.93 points or 0.92% to 2,839.59; holding firms added 31.01 points or 0.56% to 5,541.92; financials climbed 5.53 points or 0.46% to 1,195.13; and services picked up by 2.98 points or 0.23% to 1,298.31.

The sole losing index was industrials, which shed 10.56 points or 0.14% to 7,267.07.

Value turnover stood at P4.37 billion with 697.10 million issues switching hands, lower than Wednesday’s P5.07 million worth of 600.52 million issues.

“Trading volumes were the lowest in several weeks as most investors stayed on the sidelines. It is currently down 3.4% for the week. We may see it continue to move higher unless trading volumes continue to decline,” AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. Research Head Christopher John Mangun said in an e-mail.

There were 114 advancers, 66 decliners and 49 names that ended unchanged yesterday.

Net foreign selling grew to P440.43 million from P236.22 million a day ago.

Peso gains vs dollar as US mulls fresh stimulus

THE PESO strengthened against the greenback on Thursday on the back of positive market sentiment following a fresh stimulus package in the US amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as well as gains in global stocks.

The local unit ended trading at P50.67 per dollar yesterday, rising 13 centavos from its P50.80 close on Wednesday, according to data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened the session at P50.70 versus the dollar. Its weakest was at P50.74, while its strongest was at its close of P50.67 against the greenback.

Dollars traded went up to $290 million on Thursday from the $212.78 million on Wednesday.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the currency was tracing the strength in stock markets.

“The peso closed stronger after the latest gains in the US and local stock markets,” Mr. Ricafort said in a text message.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that MSCI’s broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside of Japan rebounded from two-week lows to inch up by 0.5% to 460.43 points.

The gains came after a strong overnight lead from Wall Street with the Dow up 2%, S&P 500 adding 2.3% and Nasdaq rising 2.8%.

Analysts said better-than-expected US corporate earnings supported equities despite continued volatility in overall sentiment due to the virus.

At home, the Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 0.46% or 25.80 points to close at 5,599.95 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso was buoyed by risk-off sentiment due to expectations of the US Congress’ approval of another fiscal support package for businesses in the United States.

“The peso appreciated from market optimism after the US Congress approved a fresh stimulus package of about $500-billion intended for small businesses and medical facilities,” the trader said in an e-mail.

The US House of Representatives is expected to clear a bill providing $500 billion more in aid to help small businesses ride out the COVID-19 crisis, according to Reuters.

For today, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P50.50 to P50.80 while the trader expects the peso to move around the P50.60 to P50.80 levels. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

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