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Typhoon Phanfone kills 24 in central Philippines

AT LEAST 24 people died and almost a hundred were injured after Typhoon Phanfone battered central Philippines on Christmas Day, police said on Thursday.

The typhoon, locally named Ursula, left hundreds of residents homeless and damaged buildings, according to the local disaster agency.

Six others went missing, while 569 families or 2,351 people in 38 villages were affected by the storm, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said in a 6 a.m. report on Thursday.

Ursula, the 21st typhoon to hit the country this year, has weakened as it moved toward the South China Sea, the local weather bureau said in a report.

Storm signals over the Visayas region had been lifted as of Thursday morning, but light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains were still expected over the northern portion of Palawan province, Central Luzon, some parts of Southern Luzon and Metro Manila, it said.

The storm was expected to leave the Philippines on Saturday morning.

More than 400 families were staying at evacuation centers. Almost 16,000 passengers, 1,372 rolling cargoes, 41 vessels and 26 motorboats were stranded, while 115 domestic flights were canceled.

Some airports in the Visayas region were damaged but continued operations, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said in a statement.

Kalibo International Airport was heavily damaged but will resume domestic operations at 5 p.m. The domestic arrival and check-in areas of its passenger terminal buildings could still be used while the rehabilitated international terminal will be used temporarily as a domestic pre-departure area.

International airport operations were suspended until Dec. 27 in the morning as authorities clear and restore terminal buildings.

Roxas Airport in Capiz was fully operating but communications were downgraded to advisory service from the usual aerodrome control tower communications, the aviation regulator said.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Airport in Occidental Mindoro was undergoing clearing operations and will resume operations on Dec. 28 after sustaining 30% damage.

Tacloban Airport and Caticlan Airport were back in operation after clearing, while the Puerto Princesa International Airport and Iloilo International Airport sustained minimal damage and were operating normally, authorities said.

Meanwhile, six power transmission lines in the Visayas were out or order, leaving customers of electric cooperatives in some provinces without electricity.

The facilities are 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines that became unavailable either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said in a earlier report.

“There is also one 138-kV line remaining, which tripped due to the passage of the typhoon, affecting transmission services in the entire province of Aklan,” the grid system operator said.

“Inspection and restoration of lines in the affected areas will be in full swing as soon as the weather allows,” it added.

NGCP identified the 69-kV lines that were unavailable as Panitan-Sara/Panitan-Sapian, Nabas-Sapian, Nabas-Caticlan, Borongan-Quinapondan, Ormoc-San Isidro and Babatngon-Apitong-Arado.

Typhoon Ursula hit the Visayas weeks after Typhoon Kammuri devastated southern Luzon and some areas in Samar. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Victor V. Saulon with Emmanuel Tupas, Philippine Star

Gov’t borrowing more in Q1 2020

By Beatrice M. Laforga

THE GOVERNMENT plans to raise P420 billion from the local market next quarter via short- and long-term debt papers, nearly double the borrowing program it set this quarter.

According to a Dec. 23 memorandum, the Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) borrowing plan for the first quarter of 2020 is nearly double the P220-billion program this quarter and also bigger than the P360 billion that was programmed in this year’s first quarter.

The document showed the state will borrow P240 billion through Treasury bills (T-bills) next quarter, similar to what it programmed in first quarter this year.

The Treasury is also looking to raise P180 billion via the sale of Treasury bonds (T-bonds), higher than the previous P120-billion program.

T-bills will be offered at P20 billion per offer, broken down into P8 billion for 364-day papers and P6 billion each for the 91-day and the 182-day securities.

Auction for the short-term papers will be held every Wednesday on Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29; Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26; and on March 4, 11, 18 and 25.

T-bonds will be offered every other Thursday at P30 billion per offer.

Specifically, three-year papers will be auctioned off on Jan. 9 and on March 5, five-year debt will be offered on Feb. 6, seven-year instruments will be sold on March 19 while the auction for 10-year securities will be on Feb. 20.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said in a mobile phone message on Thursday that a bigger volume of domestic borrowings has been programmed to “take advantage of the liquidity unleashed from RRR (reserve requirement ratio) cuts” implemented this year totaling 400 basis points.

Sought for comment, a bond trader said the government’s bigger spending plan next year, set at P4.1 trillion, means there is a need “to aggressively borrow more.”

“The volume was expected given the recent announcement of DBM (Department of Budget and Management) that reimbursement of 2019 budget reached past 90% in November. That means, the country is set to accomplish its spending goals,” the trader said in a text message.

Hence, the trader said, the investing public can expect bigger volumes of offers and more frequent auctions in 2020.

For offshore borrowings, Ms. De Leon said the government will likely tap the US, European, Japanese and the Chinese markets next year.

“As approved by DBCC (Development Budget Coordination Committee), 25% of the P1.4-trillion (borrowing program for 2020) will be external borrowings,” she said. “We continue to look for cost-efficient funding opportunities including dollar, euro, samurai and panda markets.”

For this quarter, the BTr raised P209.112 billion out of the P220-billion program, broken down into P79.79 billion via T-bills and P129.322 billion from T-bond sales.

This quarter, the Treasury also raised P4.961 billion via the Premyo bonds it sold last month, upsized from its original offer of P3 billion.

Also last month, the government launched its catastrophe-linked bonds through the World Bank, a financial instrument that aims to improve the country’s financial response to natural calamities like earthquakes and storms. The three-year bonds worth $225 million were divided into two tranches, $75 million to cover losses from earthquakes and $150 million for storm losses.

The government borrows from local and foreign markets to fund programs not covered by its revenues.

For next year until 2022, the state will accommodate a budget deficit of up to 3.2% of gross domestic product to support its increased spending plan, particularly on infrastructure, and boost economic activity.

Mandaluyong raising business tax and fees

MANDALUYONG CITY is increasing its business tax, mayor’s permit and other fees by around five percent next year after keeping rates unchanged for eight years.

According to Ordinance No. 750, S-2019, published Monday, the annual graduated and fixed taxes on businesses as well as the mayor’s permit fee, garbage service charge and sanitary inspection fee will increase by around five percent starting Jan. 1 next year.

Moreover, the rate for renewal of business permit will go up to 3.15% of total gross sales from three percent currently.

A check with the office of Mandaluyong’s Sangguniang Panlungsod showed the city did not increase taxes and fees since 2011.

According to Republic Act No. 7160, or the “Local Government Code of 1991,” local governments can adjust their tax rates no more than once every five years but should not “exceed 10 percent of the rates fixed under this Code.”

The new ordinance amends certain provisions of Ordinance No. 484, S-2011 or the revenue code for the City of Mandaluyong (2011).

Affected sectors include manufacturers, exporters, importers, assemblers, wholesalers, distributors or dealers of goods, retailers, contractors, owners of food establishments such as cafés, cafeterias, ice cream and refreshment parlors, restaurants, carinderias and food caterers, real estate dealers and lessors, banks and other financial institutions, dealers in securities and foreign exchange dealers, owners and operators of amusement and vending machines, and amusement places, among others. — B. M. Laforga

Competition watchdog cautions on provisions of bill opening up retail trade

REDUCING the portion of locally manufactured products carried by foreign retailers, as proposed in a Senate bill that seeks to further open up retail trade in the country, may prevent “fair competition,” the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said in a position paper.

The PCC recommended to remove the provision which will reduce to at least 10% the required stock inventory of locally manufactured products carried by such retailers from the current 30% of aggregate cost of their stock inventory.

This is among the provisions of Senate Bill No. 14, filed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, which will amend Republic Act No. 8762, or the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000.

“It is the commission’s view that there is no need for such provision, as it may unduly impede fair competition in the market,” the PCC explained in a position paper submitted to the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship on Nov. 4.

“The determination of where to source their stock inventory should be left to the retailers themselves to reflect the intent of liberalization in the retail industry.”

The PCC also pointed out the law had provided for the said provision to be in effect for only 10 years, hence, had expired in 2010.

Senate Bill No. 921, filed by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, which also awaits committee action, did not carry the same provision.

Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III, who chairs the committee, did not respond to a request for comment.

The PCC also noted its support on the lowering of the minimum paid-up capital requirement for foreign retailers, despite its position for its complete removal.

The law currently allows foreign entrants to set up wholly owned enterprises with minimum paid-up capital of at least $2.5 million, provided that their investment for each store will be at least $830,000.

Both bills provided paid-up capital requirement to $200,000 and remove the required investment of $830,000 per store,while the Department of Trade and Industry has recommended $300,000.

“The PCC supports the full liberalization of the retail sector by completely dispensing with the minimum paid-up capital requirement for foreign retailers,” the commission said.

“Nonetheless, considering the need to balance the demands of liberalization with other equally important policy interests, lowering this threshold to $200,000 is still a step towards the right direction,” it added, granted that it will be reduced in tranches.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), for its part, supported the removal of the locally manufactured product requirement, noting that even a lower threshold can still deter entry of foreign players. “Mandating a certain share of inventory to be sourced locally will discourage entry of potential foreign retailers, if local products are not competitive,” PIDS Senior Research fellow Ramonette B. Serafica said in a September position paper.

The PIDS instead recommended other measures that will directly benefit local producers, such as capacity building as well as addressing transport and logistics constraints.

The bills also proposed to remove other qualification requirements such as the $250,000 capital per store requirement for enterprises engaged in high-end or luxury products; the five-year track record in retailing; and five retailing branches or franchises in operation anywhere in the world or at least one store capitalized at a minimum of $25 million, among others.

The PIDS in a separate position paper, dated Oct. 4, recommended that safeguards be included to avoid certain risks, particularly for sole proprietors.

“With the lowering of the paid-up capital and removal of other qualification requirements as proposed, the committee may wish to review the possible risks with this form of business organization (e.g. ease of exit or ‘flight’ by the business owner) so that appropriate safeguards could be put in place,” Ms. Serafica said.

She noted that countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia prohibit foreigners from operating as sole proprietors, while Singapore adds requirements for foreigners intending to set up as a single proprietor.

The said measure is among the bills pushed by the Cabinet economic cluster for approval in the first regular session of Congress, which closes June 5 next year. It is also on the list of measures which 14 local and foreign business groups submitted to Malacañang and Congress last July.

Its counterpart measure, House Bill No. 59, sponsored by Valenzuela-1st District Rep. Weslie T. Gatchalian, awaits plenary approval in the House of Representatives. — C. A. Tadalan

The Netflix decade: How one company changed the way we watch TV

IN THE not-so-distant past, TV viewers were forced to wait a week for the next installment of their favorite shows, parceled out by networks in half-hour or hour-long increments.

Fast forward to 2019, when media and tech companies are subverting that schedule and the majority of viewers using US TV streaming services watch an average of four hours of content in one sitting, according to Deloitte.

To understand how we got here, look at Netflix.

At the start of the decade, binge watching involved VHS tapes, DVD box sets, or long nights glued to a DVR. TV cable hits included Homeland and The Wire — hour-long dramas with complicated plot lines that needed to be watched sequentially.

Watching Saturday Night Live on a Sunday became normal, and viewers started to lose track of the broadcast schedule.

In November 2010, Hulu, which debuted in 2008 as an ad-supported streaming video site, launched its subscription service, including full seasons of certain shows.

Around the same time that the broadcast TV schedule was losing its hold on viewers, Netflix was beginning to invest in original content.

In 2011, it struck a deal for its first original show, the political thriller House of Cards. It released all 13 episodes of the show’s first season on Feb. 1, 2013. That July it followed with the entire first season of Orange is the New Black.

Viewers were hooked, and the cultural shift accelerated. “Binge-watch” was a runner-up to “selfie” for the Oxford Dictionary’s 2013 word of the year.

Netflix championed this new kind of consumption, commissioning a survey to determine how many people binge-watch, and why.

“Our viewing data shows that the majority of streamers would actually prefer to have a whole season of a show available to watch at their own pace,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos at the time.

While some say the decade technically ends a year from now, the end of this year will be marked by many as the conclusion of the second decade of the 21st century. And as the new decade begins, the trend may start to reverse.

AT&T’s forthcoming HBO Max streaming service will debut one new episode of its original series per week. Walt Disney Co.’s Disney+ is releasing episodes weekly for new series including the Star Wars-related The Mandalorian. Apple released three episodes at the same time for dramas The Morning Show and See — and is doing so for most other Apple series — followed by one episode per week.

Media companies are hoping a longer release schedule will generate buzz and create more of a shared experience among viewers.

Just like the old days. — Reuters

Tears (and laughs) amidst the tinsel

By Carmen Aquino Sarmiento

MMFF Movie Review
Miracle in Cell No. 7
Directed by Nuel C. Naval

THIS FILIPINO remake of the beloved 2013 Korean hit by Lee Hwan-kyung is just what we need for Christmas. Of course, it’s mostly fantasy, with its cuddly convicts improbably getting along in their still livable cells — a distant alternative reality from the usual hellish scenes in most Philippine penitentiaries where sweaty, scabies-ridden bodies pile on top of each other, and violence is the norm. The prison setting resonates as we have an inordinate number of low budget movies set in prisons, to judge from the daily morning lineup on a major network’s free movie channel. We’ve had at least four presidents who were in prison at some point in their lives. Here is a very different kind of prison from what the movies usually bring us. Escapist entertainment, indeed, but then we all need a break.

The Korean version had a modest budget by their standards, but the Philippine version was obviously made for even much less. There is no full-scale re-trial scene here. Instead, Atty. Yesha Gopez (Bela Padilla) vindicates her late father Joselito’s, better known as Lito (Aga Mulach effortfully dumbing himself down) honor in what looks like an intimate chamber recital. There isn’t any opposing counsel, nor anyone else present in the court room except for the judge and her late father’s cellmates. But it’s Christmas. We are in a good mood, and willingly suspend intuitive logic and disbelief. At least once a year, we may allow ourselves to be comforted that somewhere out there, even in the unlikeliest of places, kindness and justice still exist.

The title might be a nod towards another beloved Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street (1947) which also had an engaging little girl, Natalie Wood, among its leads. It also echoes Life is Beautiful (1997, by Roberto Benigni) which spun the even unlikelier yarn that a little Jewish boy managed to survive for an extended period of time, and to have fun with his father in the horrors of a Nazi Concentration Camp, before his inevitable execution in the “showers.” The Jewish father went to his death jauntily, but in the Miracle in Cell No. 7-PH, the father goes full tilt for the (melo)drama: yelling, bawling, groveling, and flailing about in anguish, while the audience cooperatively weeps. It only takes the slightest twitch to tug at our heartstrings, but this film has experts doing the tugging.

It was easy to pull off with its powerhouse cast of character actors, journeymen players emoting in harmonious ensemble: John Arcilla as Prison Warden Johnny San Juan projects a bedrock decency and dignified humanity. Ronnie Lazaro as the greasy, skeezy police investigator, though, still gives us the sense that in his rundown headquarters, they have one of those infamous Wheels of Torture hidden away somewhere. He and Tirso Cruz as the arrogant, ruthless, and brutal Secretary Yulo, are reminders that this is still the Philippines after all.

Joel Torre as the cell boss Soliman has a touching vulnerability beneath his hardened, gruff, tough guy exterior. He masked his illiteracy with his bullying, part of which was ordering his inferiors to read all correspondence aloud to him. It takes the child Yesha to get him to let his guard down and admit to his shame. He finally lets her tutor him. J.C. Santos as Mambo is a revelation as a comic actor — quite a departure from his recent roles as a lover boy in Open, and as a psychotically violent cop in Babae at Baril. Give him an A for versatility. He and Jojit Lorenzo as Bong, the resident fall guy, obviously enjoy playing off each other. Soliman Cruz as Tatang Celso is reassuringly venerable. He seems to have found peace within the prison’s walls. Mon Confiado as Choy, is not given very much to do, but it was good to see him nonetheless. At least, his is not a jarring presence. Eppie Quizon has a cameo as the prosecutor in Lito’s trial.

It turned out to be a serendipitous choice for Bela Padilla to replace Nadine Lustre, who had to forego the plum role of present-day Yesha, as Ms. Padilla and the child actress Xia Vigor, do resemble one another. Both are light-skinned, doe-eyed mestiza (mixed race) types whereas Ms. Lustre was more of the morena (brown complexioned) sort. Little Ms. Vigor as the child Yesha, is precociously self-possessed and owns the screen every time she appears. Her character does smile much more than the original Korean version, but this is probably cultural, as Filipino audiences might be put-off by a pensive and solemn child.

We accept highly implausible key incidents such as how little Yesha first got into the prison simply because we are willing to play along with the unlikely scenario that a smart little girl would raise no outcry if she was suddenly snatched by an unknown thug in prison orange, thrust into a covered receptacle, then trundled around on a rickety cart to God-knows-where. The audience is in on the game and plays along. It is also easier to believe in the Philippine rather than in the Korean version, that the orphanage where Kesha has been staying would be so inept as not to notice that she was not among the van passengers on the return home from their prison sortie, and that she remained missing for at least two more days after. After all, in real life the orphanage where the Azkals player Simone Rota was left as an infant had not bothered to keep any record of who had surrendered him into their care, which became a big problem when he wanted to trace his birth mother. Oh, here’s a new baby… plenty more where he came from (see the documentary Journeyman Finds Home: The Simone Rota Story).

Miracle in Cell No. 7 is good news at a time of both natural and man-made catastrophes, when we badly need to believe that there is light at the end of this seemingly never-ending tunnel. Here, redemption comes even though it took at least 20 years, or enough time for Yesha to grow up and become a lawyer. The arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice, no matter if it comes too late for the innocent victim. We still believe.

MTRCB Rating: G

Disturbing scenes mar action-comedy

By Zsarlene B. Chua, Reporter

MMFF Movie Review
3Pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon
Directed by Rodel “Coco Martin” Nacianceno

3POL TROBOL: Huli Ka Balbon is an action-comedy film and the second feature from Rodel Nacianceno or more popularly known as Coco Martin.

The film follows Apollo C. Balbon — the titular Pol — who is in charge of security of Secretary Guillermo of the security council. And true to its genre, less than a minute into the film there’s already a high octane action scene featuring shotguns, automatic rifles, and a rocket launcher in the middle of Carriedo.

Mr. Guillermo is an upright man whose misguided decision to directly confront the leaders of a firearms smuggling ring — a general and a Senator — during a Senate session leads to his death in an ambush.

In the aftermath of the ambush, Pol — the lone survivor — is tasked to take care of Mr. Guillermo’s daughter Trina (Jennylyn Mercado) and bring a ledger filled with proof to the President, while being on the run.

Mr. Nacianceno (who also acts in the film) shows improvement from last year’s Panday, delivering a less complicated storyline and a more polished film than his debut film.

Panday often felt like a mishmash of everything the ambitious director wanted to say, but in 3Pol, Mr. Nacianceno pulled back on the ambition and focused on the story: there’s less sub-arcs and back stories. There are also fewer action scenes as Mr. Nacianceno focused on doing more comedy.

(Light spoilers ahead.)

But was it a good film? Technically, it wasn’t bad — if you think of the film as a funnier version of Ang Probinsyano — but what bothered me was Pol perving on his boss’ daughter throughout the film. Oh, and most of the male characters are also pervs or bullies, or both. It was gross.

Another scene that made me feel uncomfortable were several attempted rape scenes, with one involving Jennylyn Mercado and Sam Milby (who plays the son of the crooked Senator). I thought this was 2019 and I thought action films would have evolved enough not to include such disturbing scenes in film. Apparently, Mr. Nacianceno is still a caveman.

Jennylyn Mercado deserves better than being a damsel in distress.

I hope one day Mr. Nacianceno moves on from dirty jokes and using sexual harassment as a trope in his action films. I don’t think this film is suitable for children.

Honestly, I would’ve liked the film if they stuck with the premise and didn’t do the problematic scenes.

Oh, and it’s just 2020 but Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s cameo felt like an early campaign promo after a scene outlining all his accomplishments as “the former Mayor of Balete, Batangas.” The actor is currently the Mayor of the City of Manila. His character is named “Yorme,” his nickname in Manila.

But in all fairness, Mr. Nacianceno looks absolutely great in drag. He looks like Farrah Moan from RuPaul’s Drag Race. He spends a good chunk of the film in drag.

The film also stars Edu Manzano, Ai-Ai delas Alas, and Joey Marquez.

MTRCB Rating: PG

MPCALA seeks TRB go-signal to collect toll fees

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter

MPCALA Holdings Inc. (MPHI), a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is hoping to start collecting initial toll fees for the newly opened 10-kilometer Mamplasan Interchange-Sta. Rosa segment of the Cavite-Laguna-Expressway (CALAx) by February at the latest.

The TRB (Toll Regulatory Board) will meet in the middle of January. We cannot collect until we get the notice to start collection… so we are expecting sana third or fourth week, but the [Department of Public Works and Highways] secretary mentioned na February, ‘di ba? We are hoping na ‘yun na ‘yung latest,” MPHI President and General Manager Roberto V. Bontia told BusinessWorld in a phone interview on Thursday.

He said MPCALA filed the petition recently and received the notice to publish last Monday.

In a bulletin published in newspapers on Tuesday, MPCALA is seeking to implement the following provisional toll rates for the 10-kilometer Mamplasan Interchange-Sta. Rosa segment of CALAx: P47 for class 1 vehicles (cars), P95 for class 2 vehicles (mini vans and buses), and P143 for class 3 vehicles (large truck and trailers).

The initial base toll rates are: P4.50/km for class 1 vehicles, P9/km for class 2 vehicles, and P13.50/km for class 3 vehicles.

The company said it hopes the TRB will “immediately issue an Order exparte granting MPCALA’s prayer for the provisional relief, i.e. an Order implementing the initial base toll rates and the corresponding provisional initial toll, effective 01 January 2020, and authorizing MPCALA to collect the same.”

Once MPCALA complies with the publication requirement, the TRB will then seek approval from the board, and then issue the notice to start collection.

The Laguna segment of CALAx became fully operational last Monday, which means it will now be covered by MPCALA’s full time traffic management teams and 24/7 roadside services.

MPCALA began partial operations of the 10-kilometer segment on Oct. 30.

The whole CALAx project covers 45.3 kilometers of expressway linking the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx) from Kawit, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) at the Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

The remaining portion of the toll road is still under construction and is scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2022.

The P35.43-billion project is being undertaken by the Metro Pacific group through MPCALA, which is under Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).

MPTC is the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of three key Philippine units of Hong-Kong based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

HK kicks off 2020 with lightshow

THE iconic Victoria Harbor will take center stage again when Hong Kong ushers in 2020 with an enhanced edition of one of the world’s largest light and music shows — A Symphony of Lights. A live satellite feed of the entire 10-minute show, a kaleidoscope of lighting effects that will highlight Hong Kong’s skyline, will be provided to media organizations worldwide so that the international audience can share the festivities.

At 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, the façade of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC) will turn into a giant clock to count down to the new year. Once the clock strikes 00:00, an enhanced version of the multimedia show, A Symphony of Lights, will start. In addition to lasers, searchlights, LED screens, and other lighting effects at numerous harborfront buildings, the show will be synchronised with pyrotechnics launched from building rooftops and the display of “2020” on the façade of the HKCEC.

As part of the countdown event, a territory-wide lucky draw has been organized for the first time. Both in-town visitors and locals can participate by registering on the event website — http://www.hknycd.com — between 6 and 11:30 p.m. (Hong Kong time) on Dec. 31. Ten winners will each be awarded four return economy class tickets sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways for travelling to/from Hong Kong. With two of the tickets, the winners can invite their families and friends living abroad to visit Hong Kong.

For more information about the Hong Kong New Year Countdown event, visit the HKTB website: www.discoverhongkong.com/countdown.

Metro Manilans have lowest view of their state of wellness

A SURVEY by Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) PhilhealthCare, Inc. (PhilCare) indicates that Metro Manila residents assign a low financial priority for medical emergencies despite being the most financially capable of all the regions.

In a statement this week, PhilCare said its second PhilCare Wellness Index revealed that Metro Manila residents rated themselves the most financially capable in the survey of 1,350 participants, with 450 representing Luzon and 300 each from the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Metro Manila has the best state of financial wellness among the country’s island regions, scoring 2.70 or “good.” This was followed by Visayas (2.97, “somewhat good”), the rest of Luzon (3.54, “somewhat good”), and Mindanao (4.41, “neither good nor bad”),” PhilCare reported.

PhilCare added that its scoring is based on the “seven-point scale for purposes of measuring one’s level of financial and medical wellness, with one as “very good,” two as “good,” three as “somewhat good,” four as “neither good nor bad,” five as “somewhat bad,” six as “bad,” and seven as “very bad.””

PhilCare also added that one of five Metro Manila respondents (23.33%) “strongly agree” that their income can sufficiently cover basic needs, which is higher than what participants in Mindanao (1.67%), Luzon (0.44%), and Visayas (0.33%) answered.

Metro Manila minimum wages are the highest in the country at P537 daily according to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC). The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) estimates that Metro Manila also accounted for 36.0% of the country’s total GDP.

Despite this, PhilCare reports, “Metro Manila respondents are the worst-prepared for medical needs, scoring 5.06 or having ‘somewhat bad’ medical wellness. Likewise, Mindanao respondents are in a ‘somewhat bad’ state of medical wellness, though scoring slightly better at 4.82.”

It also added that in terms of ability to pay for medical bills without much worry, 10.7% of Metro Manila residents say they “strongly disagree,” while this is followed by those in Mindanao (6.71%) and the rest of Luzon (0.22%). Only 5.69% strongly agree in Metro Manila that they are able to pay without worry.

Three of 10 Metro Manila respondents (31.67%) said they “strongly disagree” with the practice of undergoing regular medical checkups. This is followed by Mindanao (8.33%), and Luzon (0.22%). Only 3% of Metro Manila respondents ”strongly agree” with regular check ups. For dental check ups, 37.92% of Metro Manilans “strongly disagree” while only 4.36% “strongly agree.” — Gillian M. Cortez

Telcos form JV for mobile number portability

THE country’s telecommunications companies have formed a joint venture (JV) that will bring them closer to implementing the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Act.

In a joint statement, Globe Telecom, Inc., PLDT, Inc.’s wireless unit Smart Communications and new player Dito Telecommunity said they are making fresh investments in the new company that will enable number porting services.

The MNP Act or Republic Act 11202, which was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte into law in February 2019, allows mobile phone users to switch networks without changing their numbers.

The telcos said they tapped Florida-based Syniverse as mobile number portability service provider (MNPSP) that “will bring in the technical infrastructure to fulfill its primary function as clearinghouse for the telcos and ensuring smooth implementation of number porting services.”

“Given the technical and operational complexity of mobile number portability, we wanted to make sure the MNPSP has the experience and capacity to fulfill its obligations under the law. Our utmost priority is to ensure that the experience of our customers is seamless and of utmost convenience should they decide to port their numbers,” Globe Chief Technology and Information Officer and Chief Strategy Officer Gil B. Genio was quoted as saying.

Under the MNP Act’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) issued last July, the operators “will equally share the capital expenditure for the software, hardware and other facilities required by the MNPSP.”

The telcos and Syniverse will also have to agree on the sharing of operating and maintenance costs of the number porting services.

Syniverse is described as a company that assists mobile operators globally in managing and securing their mobile and network communications.

For the Philippines, Syniverse estimates the completion of MNP’s implementation would not be more than 18 months from the establishment of the support mechanism. Porting services in the Philippines will be free of charge.

In other countries where porting fees are charged to customers, the average period of MNP implementation is 27 months from the issuance of the IRR.

“We’ve taken the key steps forward but there’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of technical preparations. We at PLDT and Smart have geared up for this. We are taking steps to put in place a seamless and efficient process for our existing and would-be customers who would like to avail of this service in the future,” Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT and Smart chief revenue officer and Smart president, was quoted as saying.

Under the law, mobile number portability refers to the ability of a mobile postpaid or prepaid subscriber, who has no existing financial obligation to the service provider, to retain an existing mobile number despite having moved from one mobile service provider to another, or to change subscription mode from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa.

The law requires telcos to provide mobile number portability to subscribers nationwide free of charge.

Every telecommunication service provider has to change subscription mode within 24 hours from the time a subscriber submits application, according to the law. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Recyclable Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Directed by J.J. Abrams

FINALLY, the last installment of this third trilogy that George Lucas a long time ago in an era that feels far far away once cobbled together, from Flash Gordon serials, The Adventures of Robin Hood, World War 2 fighter plane footage (particularly The Dam Busters) and, most of all, Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress (with a brief callback to Yojimbo). The capstone to his grand edifice of a fantasy* franchise if you like.

Does the movie live up to all expectations?

I doubt if any film, no matter how well made, can live up to the expectations and/or hype; the producers did do the careful thing and re-hired J.J. Abrams — an expert at picking up worn-out franchises and giving them a shiny updated spin — to pick up this particularly wornout franchise, shine it, update it, give it a clever (but not too clever) spin, to stick a satisfying enough landing. Did it work? Well at $400 million on opening weekend, chances are it’s going to earn its money back, with change.

Is it a satisfying entertainment? I guess, if the nonstop barrage of swordfights, chases, quests, and intermittently amusing quips fired at you is your idea of a good time; personally I’d prefer to rewatch the live-action Dumbo remake — may not be any more sensibly assembled, but at least it has a fairly distinctive visual style.

Does it give us a satisfying conclusion? Haven’t liked a Star Wars movie since The Empire Strikes Back — well, Rogue One was at least made by a filmmaker — so I’m faintly satisfied that it’s concluded. Should have concluded some years ago. Should have stopped at Empire. Not really all that satisfied, come to think of it.

Of course Disney isn’t satisfied with leaving things be — hasn’t been even with its own back catalog. Another trilogy is planned in a few years — if I’m not rolling my eyes at the prospect that’s because Disney might actually hire someone good to do the next few pictures (yes, I’m that kind of masochist).

Of course I’m not holding my breath.

Palpatine is back, which is consistent with Abrams’ probably unintentional theme of recycling (good idea for the environment, not always good for films) — he’s the most memorable bad guy in the movies since Vader, and Vader has been reduced from the towering dark menace in Empire to the twitching emo neurotic crawling up volcanic slopes in Revenge of the Sith. A replacement was needed, so they hired Adam Driver to play a twitching emo neurotic Vader lite — and if that sounds funny, just remember the unstated unintended theme of this third trilogy, apparently, is recycling. We’re being consistent, is all.

And, yes, I’ve been told The Last Jedi broke new ground — in my book didn’t break new enough, just a few fairly clever twists here there, and a visual style that on occasion rose to the occasion. If they really wanted to break new ground they should have gone with original intentions and had David Lynch do Return of the Jedi. Scary? It’s Star Wars, they could have done anything and the folks would’ve eaten it up; the difference is I might have been eating with everyone else.

I figure the franchise’s fate was sealed when Lucas sold the whole shebang to Disney — you don’t look to that studio for creative ferment, only a smoothly calculated and pretty safe return on your investment. Lucas wasn’t thinking of sending his most famous creation in an interesting direction; he just wanted to make sure he was well provided for in his retirement. J.J. Abrams is careful to avoid the mistakes Lucas made — using real landscapes and locations where the latter used fanciful (and plainly weightless) CGI constructs, maybe carefully integrating said locations with sets and discreet CGI enhancements. It’s the only element of real interest in the movie, and maybe the only location of real interest is the Death Star crash site with its titanic waves — though didn’t that thing blow into a billion pieces at the end of the movie?

Otherwise — zilch. Nada. A chore to sit through, though at least the dialogue is passable (if not particularly witty) as opposed to Lucas’ grammatically and dramatically challenged idea of dialogue.

Maybe the only question I’m interested in answering right now is this: which is the less painful experience, listening to Lucas’ excruciating dialogue try take the franchise in a newish direction? Or listen to Abrams’ relatively more polished dialogue while he retreads ground we’ve gone over a few times, like well-flattened roadkill? Which is the less painful experience, the fairly well made retread or the awkwardly assembled new creation? Which would you pick, the root canal or the colonoscopy?

I know what I prefer — leaving it to the interested reader to guess. Not one of the best of the year.

*(As for the debate on whether Star Wars is science fiction or fantasy — let’s not go there. Star Wars’ trappings, from spacecraft that corner and shriek like WW 2 fighters to swords made of laser light that stops at three feet are ridiculous beyond belief; there’s no science involved, and even less interest in exploring the consequences of this science, which is what quality SF is all about.)

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