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Megaworld gives P60 million for virus fight

MEGAWORLD Corp. is ramping up its support to the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through a P60-million donation to the Philippine Red Cross.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Andrew L. Tan-led property development firm said it gave funds to the humanitarian organization to be used in putting up COVID-19 testing laboratories across Metro Manila.

Specifically, the allocation was used to buy four sets of COVID-19 test laboratories, with each test laboratory comprising of two RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) machines, one RNA (ribonucleic acid) machine, a lab freezer and a bio-safety cabinet.

RT-PCR machines are widely used globally in “detecting, tracking, and studying the coronavirus,” Austria-based International Atomic Energy Agency said. Through this laboratory method, the RNA of the coronavirus may be extracted from a person’s own genetic material.

The testing laboratories put up through Megaworld’s donation are supposedly able to process 10,000 COVID-19 tests every day, with the results of each test available as fast as three hours.

“This will further strengthen our government’s efforts in detecting COVID-19 cases so we can really get to focus on them and prevent more people from being infected,” Megaworld Chief Strategy Officer Kevin Andrew L. Tan said in the statement.

“The Philippine Red Cross has the experience and capability to operate these testing laboratories, and we are confident that this project can greatly help in having more people tested fast,” he added.

Before the recent donation, Megaworld distributed food and grocery bags to frontliners in hospitals and city borders. It has also fielded buses as free transportation to medical personnel.

Its foundation arm likewise gave face masks to elderly and orphan beneficiaries, while its hotel arm gave toiletries and personal protective equipment to hospitals and local government units.

Megaworld booked a net income of P12.8 billion in the first nine months of 2019, higher by 14% from the earlier year. Its shares at the stock exchange stood at P2.78 on Tuesday, down four centavos or 1.42% from the previous session. — Denise A. Valdez

HSBC cuts top investment bank jobs despite freeze

LONDON/HONG KONG — Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) has cut a number of top management roles in its investment bank, memos seen by Reuters showed, a sign that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Noel Quinn is pressing on with plans to shake up the group despite having put a wider job cut program on hold.

Mr. Quinn last month announced a temporary halt to plans for 35,000 redundancies across the bank because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Quinn, who took on the permanent CEO role in March after a lengthy audition process during which Chairman Mark Tucker courted several external candidates, faces a nightmarish task to steer Europe’s biggest bank through the crisis.

HSBC’s twin homes of Britain and China have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, while cuts to central bank interest rates worldwide will curb the bank’s already pressured profits and it faces a shareholder revolt in Hong Kong over dividend halts.

The new strategy for the bank that Mr. Quinn announced in February already needs overhauling, as the lender tries to adapt to the crashing global economy.

“It’s hard to feel anything but sympathy for Noel who’s doing okay in exceptionally tough circumstances,” said Hugh Young, managing director at Aberdeen Asset Management Asia, one of HSBC’s 10 largest investors.

Mr. Quinn’s management reshuffle includes cutting the regional head roles of the Global Banking & Markets (GBM) business which houses HSBC’s investment banking activities, the memo seen by Reuters on Monday, said.

As a result, Asia-Pacific head of GBM Gordon French will take a six-month sabbatical from the bank, while the Americas head Andre Brandao will stay on until the end of the year before a further announcement is made.

In Europe, GBM head Thierry Roland will step down from that role to take charge of a unit focused on asset disposals, as HSBC seeks to shrink its balance sheet.

A spokesman for the bank confirmed the contents of the memos.

WORST OF ALL WORLDS
Two other memos seen by Reuters and sent to bank staff in recent weeks announced further changes.

GBM Chief Operating Officer Andre Cronje will leave the bank as part of the reorganization, a separate memo seen by Reuters said, and his role will not be replaced.

The bank is combining support functions for the Global Banking and Commercial Banking businesses into a single “back office” unit, the memo said.

A third memo spelled out the new regional heads of the Global Banking business, with former China CEO David Liao taking over Asia, Philippe Henry running Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Andre Brandao looking after the Americas pending a later decision, the memo said.

HSBC will be the first major British bank to reveal the early impact of the crisis on its business, when it reports earnings for the January-March period on April 28.

Early indications are that the bank will follow the lead of US peers that earlier this month reported a sharp rise in provisions against bad loans, as lockdown measures worldwide choke economic activity.

HSBC is, for example, among creditors to Singapore oil trader Hin Leong Trading (Pte) Ltd., which is struggling to repay debts following a collapse in the oil price, Reuters reported on April 16.

HSBC has declined to comment on the situation.

Investors said Mr. Quinn and other HSBC bosses are donating some of his salary to coronavirus-related charities, faces a battle to implement his cost-cutting plans for the bank amid public pressure to support workers at big companies.

“Not only is Quinn not going to be paid for this job, he’s not actually going to be able to implement his strategy as he intended,” said Richard Buxton, head of UK equities at Merian Global Investors.

“It’s the worst of all worlds in a way. You have declared what you’re going to do but you cannot execute it.” — Reuters

Stuff to do at home (04/22/20)

Cultural Center of the Philippines Online


The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) will stream the following recordings of its shows through CCP Online this week at 3 p.m.: Dustin Celestino’s Mga Eksena sa Buhay ng Kontrabida, directed by Roobak Valle (Virgin Labfest 14), premieres on April 22; and Tanghalang Pilipino’s Batang Mujahideen, written by Malou Jacob and directed by Guelan Luarca, premieres on April 24. The shows will be available for streaming for a week before they are replaced with new shows. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/culturalcenterphils.

Cooking Singing show with Carla Guevara Laforteza

The Open House fundraising campaign presents the Cooking Singing show with Carla Guevara Laforteza on April 23 at 4 p.m. The program is part of Philstage’s efforts to raise funds to help displaced workers in the performing arts. To watch and donate, visit https://www.facebook.com/lovephilstage/?tn-str=k*F.

Cooking with Chef Rosebud Benitez

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

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/.

Love Never Dies online

Andrew Lloyd Webber will stream the 2012 Australian production of Love Never Dies — the sequel to the Phantom of the Opera — as the 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 free viewing for 48 hours. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag.

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 view of 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. 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 going online! 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.

BGC for frontliners

The Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation, Inc. (FBDFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of BGC, continues to ask for support through cash or in-kind donations #ForTheFrontline. For cash donations to the Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation via BPI online bank transfer, send to account number: 1921-1158-37. E-mail deposit slips to: info@bgc.com.ph. All donation items and proceeds will be used to provide food, PPEs, and other necessities for the front liners of BGC.

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.

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 on its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDq1XzCY0NIOYVJvEMQjqw). The National Theatre at Home will release a new play free to watch for one week every Thursday (7 p.m. GMT/2 p.m. EST). It includes cast and creative interviews and post-stream talks. The remaining shows are Treasure Island on April 16 (available until April 23), 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. 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.

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

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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.

PT&T ties up with UST to provide IT services

THE Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) has partnered with the University of Santo Tomas to provide internet and IT services to critical health facilities in Manila as the country battles the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The listed telecommunications service provider said in a statement on Tuesday that UST intends to enable selected health centers in the Philippine capital “to tap into the University’s pool of medical professionals” for pandemic-related assistance.

PT&T said it had installed internet connections at Delpan Evacuation Center, Belmonte Health Center, and Health Center District Office.

The company has also tapped Lenovo, a technology company headquartered in Hong Kong, to provide Lenovo Ideapad and Thinkpad model laptops that will be used in the said campaign.

The internet connectivity and laptops will help UST’s Simbahayan (Community Development Office) and the Santisimo Rosario Parish in their efforts to assist local communities, PT&T said.

PT&T President James G. Velasquez said his company “remains committed to providing its customers with fast and reliable internet service, as it braves through this unprecedented and challenging time.”

The company said its core network and technical field teams will remain on duty during the enhanced community quarantine period to ensure continuous and uninterrupted delivery of services to its existing and potential clients.

“PT&T also extended logistical support to I Am Hope Org, which has provided PPE’s (personal protective equipment) for frontliners in hospitals including Las Piñas Doctors Hospital and Las Piñas General Hospital. The I Am Hope’s mission, led by Rina Navarro and Bea Alonzo, is to augment support for the immediate and long-term needs of the frontliners,” the listed company said further. — Arjay L. Balinbin

How PSEi member stocks performed — April 21, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

Which basic goods and services do consumers expect to spend more/less in the second quarter of 2020?

Which basic goods and services do consumers expect to spend more/less in the second quarter of 2020?

PEZA seeks unified ECQ rules amid movement snags at LGUs

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is calling for a unified plan in addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, saying that local governments are issuing rules that do not comply with national guidelines which continue to hamper the mobility of goods and workers.

PEZA Director-General Charito B. Plaza said in a statement on Tuesday that a harmonized strategy must be implemented nationwide during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“LGUs (local government units) should not separately address the pandemic and create invisible walls. Lockdown policies per island or per region greatly affect or hamper the flow of goods and mobility of workers because of the different EOs (executive orders) imposed by the LGUs,” she said.

She said government agencies must cooperate to address both public health and the continued production of essential products.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), in a briefing Saturday, said LGUs must lead the fight against the pandemic, and asked government agencies to recommend sector-specific plans.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III said Sunday that selective quarantines at the barangay level for high-infection areas should remain in place after the extended ECQ ends.

Mr. Plaza said that PEZA is working with various government agencies and LGUs to ensure unhampered movement of goods and to implement national directives allowing economic zone locators to bypass checkpoints.

PEZA said it is extending the validity of permits, and has adjusted requirements for availing of incentives.

The authority said that 66% of its 835 companies in Luzon are operational as of April 20, while 40% of 176 Visayas-based companies and 94% of 31 Mindanao-based companies are operational.

“PEZA’s Incident Command System (ICS) in response to the COVID-19 crisis established requirements for companies in ecozones to continue operations during this period of ECQ,” Ms. Plaza said.

“It is the choice of companies to continue operations during the ECQ. But those who want to do so must comply with the protocols issued by the Department of Health (DoH) to avoid COVID-19 infections in the workplace.”

Ms. Plaza advocated for the unified enforcement of quarantine measures for public order, and argued against ECQ implementation that resembles a military crackdown.

“Our success and survival from this COVID crisis requires a well-calculated and a unified balancing act, addressing the health and food needs with the right courses of actions. The challenge now is employing the right tactics and strategies to preserve peace and order, protect our people’s lives and properties, she said.” — Jenina P. Ibañez

S&P raises PHL 2020 unemployment estimate to 6.8%

UNEMPLOYMENT is expected to surge in service sector-reliant Asia because of the pandemic, with the Philippine jobless rate projected at 6.8% this year from the 5.3% pre-outbreak forecast, according to S&P Global Ratings.

“Measures designed to limit viral spread are striking at the heart of the engine of job creation across Asia-Pacific — the service sector,” S&P said in a report, “Jobs and the Climb Back from COVID-19.”

Philippine unemployment in 2019 dipped to a 14-year low of 5.1% after a 5.3% reading in 2018, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“In the absence of large and targeted wage subsidy schemes, we estimate that unemployment rates would rise by well over 3 ppt (percentage points) across the region, much more than the typical recession,” S&P said.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority, job displacement caused by the pandemic could involve between 116,000 and 1.8 million workers.

S&P said that the services sector has become a more significant part of the job market across the region, with 55 out of 100 workers employed in services against 14 in the industrial sector. Among those in services, 22 are employed in wholesale and retail or hospitality.

S&P added that small and medium-sized enterprises typically fuel services growth. It noted that about 50% of the service sector in emerging markets are firms with less than 250 employees.

“SMEs usually have fewer resources to draw on to weather an economic sudden stop. As revenues collapse, to stay alive, these firms will be forced to cut whatever expenses they can,” S&P said, noting that their largest expenses are typically wages.

In the Philippines, more than 90% of businesses are classified as MSMEs (micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises), and they fuel employment opportunities, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort.

Mr. Ricafort also said that the service sector is a significant part of the economy, as it accounts for nearly 60% of economic output, against the industry sector’s 30% and agriculture sector’s 10%.

“The lockdown and any social-distancing measures could still continue for months and could still adversely affect some services industries that depend so much on person-to-person transactions such as tourism, travel, transport and other related industries,” Mr. Ricafort said in an e-mail Tuesday.

Recent government programs to aid affected businesses amid COVID-19 may minimize the impact of the outbreak on unemployment, according to UnionBank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion.

“With BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) recently announcing help for SMEs through bank loans together with government guarantees, this will help cushion the potential unemployment that a majority of SMEs may experience. It will help restart the economy in a positive way,” Mr. Asuncion said in an e-mail. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Food delivery glimpses upside after wider adoption during ECQ

THE on-demand food delivery industry demonstrated its potential after its services were called upon extensively during the pandemic, with usage now expected to surge from a low base in 2019, Maybank Kim Eng said in a report.

“With the ban on dine-in services, more food merchants are signing up with delivery platforms such as GrabFood, Foodpanda and Deliveroo,” it said.

Food e-commerce is also expected to help small food and beverage companies ride out periods when their customers cannot dine in restaurants, it added.

In an e-mail to BusinessWorld in response to queries, Maybank Kim Eng analyst Lee Ju Ye said the pandemic offers lessons for businesses and will drive investment in e-commerce channels.

“The Philippines still faces limitations with regard to technology adoption, last-mile delivery capability and online payment systems,” she said.

Ms. Lee has noted that big companies have started to boost their online presence, citing Jollibee Food Corp., which has teamed up with food aggregators Foodpanda Group and Grab Philippines, as well as Robinsons Supermarket Corp. which has partnered with Metromart.

Shailesh Baidwan, president of digital payments firm PayMaya Philippines, Inc. told BusinessWorld earlier that the company has taken note of a rise in digital transactions for retail outlets like groceries, bricks-and-mortar restaurants, smaller online food specialty stores, and fresh and frozen product suppliers which have started accepting orders online.

Maybank Kim Eng said the Philippines has among the lowest e-commerce penetration rates in the region at about 4%, which is similar to Indonesia’s. The corresponding rates for the rest of the region are 4.4% for Thailand, 4.7% for Malaysia, 9% for Singapore, 13% for China and 30% for South Korea.

Ms. Lee said there is still “much room” for growth in Philippine e-commerce even when social distancing measures are removed.

“There would be many consumers who shifted to the online platform for the first time and as they grow accustomed to shopping online during the lockdown period, they may continue to do so when the lockdown ends,” Ms. Lee said. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

LNG market favorable in next few years due to low prices

THE next years will likely be favorable for importers of liquified natural gas (LNG) like Philippines due to low prices, Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research said in an outlook issued Tuesday.

“The Philippines has yet to enter into any LNG supply contracts for its terminals, and as such, it could prove to be an attractive market for the growing legion of LNG suppliers globally,” it noted.

Fitch Solutions raised anew its concerns about the rapid decline in output of the Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project, the Philippines’ only indigenous natural gas producer, which supplies 20% of the country’s total electricity needs.

The government has identified LNG imports as a substitute for the diminishing Malampaya production, which the Department of Energy (DoE) expected to be nearly depleted by 2027.

Various firms have submitted their proposals for LNG regasification facilities.

One of these projects is the gas-to-power project by Australian firm Energy World Corporation (EWC) in Pagbilao, Quezon, which has been seeing delays in securing licenses to operate and in acquiring the government’s permission to connect its project to the country’s power grids.

First expected to go online this year, the project, which has a 4.1 billion cubic meter capacity, could start commercial operations in the next two years, coinciding with the target start of the operations of EWC’s Sengkang production site in Indonesia, set to be the Pagbilao LNG project’s main feed-gas source.

Other firms with LNG projects which were issued notices to proceed are First Gen Corp. and partner Tokyo Gas Co.’s $1-billion 1,200 megawatt (MW) gas-fired generation unit and a 5 million tons per annum (mtpa) regasification unit, and American firm Excelerate Energy, which signed a deal to supply LNG for the Ilijan gas-fired power plants of SMC Power Holdings Corp., a unit of San Miguel Corp.

Recently, the Lucio Tan Group proposed to develop a $735-million 1.1 gigawatt (GW)-integrated gas-to-power project with capacity of 3 mtpa. It is set to partner with the Blackstone Group’s Gen X Energy.

Meanwhile, the joint venture $2-billion Tanglawan LNG project by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. and China National Offshore Oil Corp. was suspended. It was expected to have a 2.2 mtpa import capacity.

Fitch Solutions noted that the on-going territorial disputes in the resource-rich West Philippine Sea and the slow progress in joint oil exploration negotiations with China have led to suspensions of drilling activity and discouraged exploration within the area.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which disrupted supply chains around the world, “is unlikely to have helped matters,” it said.

Recently, UC Malampaya Philippines Pte. Ltd., a unit of Udenna Corp., acquired the 45% stake of Chevron Malampaya LLC in the Malampaya project under the DoE-awarded Service Contract 38. Other stakeholders include Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX), which also owns a 45% stake in the project, and state-led Philippine National Oil Co. Exploration Corp. (PNOC EC), which holds the remaining 10%.

The report said the Philippines is still not committed to developing natural gas and other clean energy sources, despite promoting the use of low-carbon footprint sources in its energy blueprint.

Stronger gas off-take, it said, may not necessarily help achieve its plan to improve energy security and expand energy access, two of the strategic pillars of the Philippine Energy Plan 2017-2040, as coal is expected to increase its share of the energy mix in the next two decades, while the share of other energy sources is expected to contract.

“This indicates that while Manila is prepared to offset the fall in Malampaya’s gas via LNG imports, there is yet no certainty that it is ready to steer the energy mix towards gas and LNG, in the manner of certain regional neighbors,” it said.

The DoE’s push for the use of nuclear energy might “provide distant competition for gas in the future,” it added. In March, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi urged President Rodrigo R. Duterte to issue an executive order seeking to restore nuclear energy to the energy mix. — Adam J. Ang

NCR construction material prices rise in March

THE wholesale price of construction materials in the National Capital Region (NCR) rose 1.6% in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

The construction materials wholesale price index (CMWPI) rose 1.6% year on year in March, compared to a rise of 1.5% in February.

Growth in the retail-level index, known as the construction materials retail price index (CMRPI), slowed to 0.9% in March, after coming in at 1.1% in February.

The acceleration in CMWPI growth was driven by upticks in concrete products and cement (1.3% from 0.6% in February) and reinforcing and structural steel (0.3% from 0.2%). The prices of doors, jambs, and steel casements rose 0.7% in March, a reversal from February when it declined 0.7% year on year.

Commodities where price growth rose at a slower pace in March compared with February were galvanized iron sheets (2.8% from 4%); sand and gravel (1.4% from 2.5%); electrical works (1.4% from 2%); hardware (4.7% from 5.3%); plumbing fixtures and accessories/waterworks (1.4% from 1.9%); lumber (3.3% from 3.8%); and painting works (0.9% from 1.1%).

Tileworks prices grew 17.5% while prices of glass and glass products rose 7.1% and those of PVC pipes rose 7.5%, while asphalt and machinery and equipment rental prices were flat.

Price declines accelerated in plywood (minus 0.4% from minus 0.1%) and fuels and lubricants (minus 5.7% from minus 0.7%).

Meanwhile, the year-on-year slowdown in the CMRPI in March was led by miscellaneous construction materials (0.5% from 0.8%); tinsmithry materials (1% from 1.3%); plumbing materials (0.7% from 0.9%); and painting materials and related compounds (1.6% from 1.7%).

The increase in retail prices accelerated for carpentry materials (1.3% from 1%); masonry materials (0.7% from 0.5%); and electrical materials (0.7% from 0.6%).

“The increase in wholesale prices of construction materials… can be due to increases in big-ticket construction developments over retail-type construction; hence, the slower movement in retail prices of construction,” John Paolo R. Rivera, associate director at the Asian Institute of Management, said in an e-mail.

However, Mr. Rivera found the data “puzzling,” and speculated why March prices rose when NCR was on extended community quarantine (ECQ) for half of the month.

“Is the BBB (Build, Build, Build ) program still on-going despite ECQ? I don’t think so. Or, is this a delayed reaction of wholesale prices to the previous movement in demand prior to ECQ? It might be. Or, is this reflective of the ‘construction’ efforts to refit certain facilities to augment COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) response? It’s possible,” he said.

Luzon was placed under ECQ in mid-March to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The lockdown was supposed to end on April 12 but was extended to April 30 as reported COVID-19 cases in the country showed no signs of slowing.

“Inflation is also slowing down from January to March due to decreasing oil prices… and slower economic activities due to ECQ. Given this movement, I expect both wholesale and retail prices to slow or go down assuming the government and private sector is halting huge construction projects and most resources are allocated to COVID-19 response,” Mr. Rivera said, adding that construction activities may be limited to refitting certain facilities.

Due to congestion in hospitals, the government has started to convert buildings into quarantine facilities. Among these include the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the Philippine International Convention Center and the World Trade Center. — Marissa Mae M. Ramos

IATF issues new directive forming food-security task group

THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has appointed a task group for food security led by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

IATF Resolution No. 25 authorized the formation of the Task Group on Food Security (TGFS). The group will address threats to the food supply during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

“Guided by the whole-of-nation approach, the TGFS will work toward easing uncertainties of our countrymen on the supply and movement of food from farm to table,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said.

Resolution No. 25 revised a previous IATF resolution that created a food security sub-group under the task force’s technical working group on resource management.

Members of the TGFS include the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“Ensuring food security should be at the forefront of our priorities along with ensuring the safety and health of our people. Again, we stand by our conviction that the threat of hunger is as real as the threat of COVID-19,” Mr. Dar said.

Meanwhile, the IATF also reported that stocks of food are sufficient until June.

According to data from the DA, the national rice supply is 18 million metric tons (MT), poultry 1.95 million MT, and pork 1.12 million MT.

“We will not run out of food commodities in markets. There is enough food in the country,” IATF Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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