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MOVIE REVIEW
Neomanila
Directed by Mikhail Red
Available for free on YouTube

Mikhail Red continues his oddward journey with Neomanila, his third feature, set in Metro Manila’s mean streets — to be more precise, in the city of Pasig, one of the more eccentric corners of the National Capital Region.

Pasig looks new, feels new, the colonial Spanish architecture you see in the rest of the metropolis largely absent; Pasig in my childhood was cogon fields and farmlands till they sprouted neighborhoods, then factories, then (in the 1990s) commercial hubs. Once started the growth barely paused; have not visited in 17 years but the urban setting of Red’s film recalls an alarming combination of Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell, with an updated iteration of Maynila Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag swirled into the mix. I mean — even the slums look new, the grime recently applied, the garbage freshly strewn.

Father and veteran indie filmmaker Raymond Red is a self-professed fan of Ridley Scott’s science fiction epic, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was also a fan or has at least seen Mamoru Oshii’s equally influential anime feature; safe bet that Mikhail has inherited that enthusiasm, and pours it into this production. The script (by Mikhail, cousin Rae Red, and Zig Dulay) is not so much a vigilante-killers film as it is a stray-child story, focusing on the nascent relationship forming between gang courier Toto (Timothy Castillo) and self-appointed guardian and mother figure Irma (Eula Valdez). Toto needs money; his brother is in jail, not necessarily because he committed a crime but because he’s connected to a crime figure they seek, and the cops demand either the aforementioned figure or an unaffordably large sum of money (the practice is called “palit-ulo” or literally “swap-heads”; not a legal practice but a reportedly common one). Toto approaches Irma for a job, Irma (a friend of his late mother, she claims) gives him one, the film goes from there.

In the background we have Irma’s job, as a vigilante killer hired and directed by the police. Duterte’s drug-war EJKs (extra judicial killings) and the practice of palit-ulo are used as armatures in the plot; the latter is the motor that drives Toto and the former is the profession that draws them closer to each other. The details are fairly persuasive: the pose and presentation of corpses — bound by duct tape, sporting cardboard signs that read “I AM A PUSHER; DO NOT IMITATE” — seem inspired by the series of harrowing photographs taken at the actual murder sites. Red doesn’t play coy with the police — the “boss” Irma works for is clearly a high-placed officer, and many of the victims are either low-level drug dealers few will miss or (in a specific case) an “asset” (informer) the police want silenced.

As Toto, Timothy Castillo represents our point of view and does so with unfussy directness. He doesn’t have a pretty-boy face and thank goodness for that; his is a face of the streets, tough-looking with a hint of vulnerable youth, a face you feel will express what’s inside — no technique, no filter, no prevarication. That said, the performance is miles away from the wide-grinning unsettlingly nonhuman Nathan Winston Payumo he played in Eduardo Dayao’s Violator — you can’t help being impressed by the acting range, or at least the eclectic choice of roles.

As Irma, Eula Valdez owns the film. I remember her being a striking beauty; I don’t remember her as any kind of drama heavyweight (to be fair I wasn’t looking). Her Irma has the hardened look of a veteran professional, used to taking a life in the course of a day’s work, her strongest emotional register being cynical amusement at matters grotesque or ironic. When the strain of the job gets to her, when she, despite herself, betrays glimmerings of a hidden humanity — the searching look she gives Toto, or the tenderness with which she leaves a baby along the aisle of a 24-hour convenience store — the effect on us is quiet surprise.

I mentioned Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell as probable visual influences, and one may question if this kind of story — standard-issue assassin-for-hire and her boy assistant — justifies the elaborate extravagant backdrop. I think so: Red (I submit) presents a futuristic landscape not primarily in the spirit of Scott or Oshii (though they contribute significantly) but in the spirit of Jean-Luc Godard, who can gaze at the Paris of the 1960s and in Alphaville envision the far future without using a single made-up set or prop. The lighting and structures are all the city of Pasig’s; the framing and sensibility is all Red. And at the foot of these neon lit buildings, along streets brightened by the glow of sodium lamps, these little creatures — human cockroaches if you will — scamper and struggle and do their best to survive. Not a bad contribution to the genre of neo-noir and (in my book) Red’s best to date.

The film is available for free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoRuBcHbbQs

Amazon sued after New York worker brings virus home, cousin dies

NEW YORK — Amazon.com Inc. has been sued for allegedly fostering the spread of the coronavirus by mandating unsafe working conditions, causing at least one employee to contract COVID-19, bring it home, and see her cousin die.

The complaint was filed on Wednesday in the federal court in Brooklyn, New York, by three employees of the JFK8 fulfillment center in Staten Island, and by family members.

One employee, Barbara Chandler, said she tested positive for COVID-19 in March and later saw several household members become sick, including a cousin who died on April 7.

The lawsuit said Amazon has made JFK8, which employs about 5,000, a “place of danger” by impeding efforts to stop the coronavirus spreading, boosting productivity at the expense of safety.

It said Amazon forces employees to work at “dizzying speeds, even if doing so prevents them from socially distancing, washing their hands, and sanitizing their work spaces.”

Amazon did not comment on the lawsuit, but said it has always followed guidance from health authorities and its workplace safety experts since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The Seattle-based company has benefited as the pandemic forced many consumers unable to visit physical stores to shop online more.

Unions, elected officials and some employees have faulted Amazon’s treatment of workers, including the firing of some critical of warehouse conditions.

Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said last week that Amazon has not fired people for such criticism.

Amazon is spending more than $800 million on coronavirus safety in this year’s first half, including cleaning, temperature checks and face masks. At least 800 workers in US distribution centers have tested positive for COVID-19, according to an employee’s unofficial tally.

Amazon ended 2019 with 798,000 full- and part-time employees.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction requiring that Amazon comply with worker safety and public nuisance laws, and not punish employees who develop COVID-19 symptoms or are quarantined.

The case is Palmer et al v. Amazon.com Inc., US District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 20-02468. — Reuters

Stuff to do at home (06/05/20)

Ballet Manila online

Ballet Manila present’s Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s favorite roles from her Swan Song Series for streaming at its official social media pages (www.facebook.com/balletmanilaofficial) and (www.youtube.com/c/balletmanilaofficial). The series opens with Swan Lake premiering on June 6 (6 p.m.). It will be available until June 12 (10 p.m.).

Plays on CCP Online

Watch Virgin Labfest entries Raymund Barcelon’s Huling Hiling Ni Darling (Virgin Labfest 15) and Em Mendez’s Ang Unang Regla Ni John (Virgin Labfest 9) at CCP’s YouTube channel (bit.ly/CCPOnlineYT). The shows will be online for one week.

CAST Recording

CAST Recording’s third radio drama: Arnold Bennett’s A Question of Sex is now on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5bLSOsJPkZnIaEFDfSSHbl?si=ndUICgUUQj-UKIjxEGbW6w&fbclid=IwAR06k5DEB0zRa4b1jCqeglmtENl3lTwCAwlcOiLltwcNGjg84r8qHdhmL-M). Directed by Nelsito Gomez, the reading features Reb Atadero, Sarah Facuri, Cathy Azanza-Dy, and Jeremy Domingo.

National Museum of the Philippines

The National Museum of the Philippines has released a new coloring set with Larry Dianco’s illustrations of endemic orchids such as the waling-waling. To download, visit https://www.facebook.com/nationalmuseumofthephilippines/photos/a.195151237175869/3282991451725150/?type=3&theater.

Peter Pan Live!

The YouTube channel The Shows Must Go On (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag) presents the 2014 NBC broadcast of Peter Pan Live! beginning June 5 (2 p.m. ET). The television adaptation stars Allison Williams in the title role, with Taylor Louderman as Wendy Darling, Kelli O’Hara as Mrs. Darling, and Christian Borle as Mr. Darling and Smee, and Christopher Walken as Captain Hook. It will be available for 48 hours.

Sesame Street discusses racism

Sesame Street collaborates with CNN for the Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism town hall. Big Bird will join CNN’s Van Jones and Erica Hill in a discussion on racism, protesting, diversity, and understanding. It will air on June 6 (10 a.m. ET) on CNN, CNN International, and CNN en Español. It will also stream live on CNN.com and on the CNN app.

Landers online workshops for kids

Landers Superstore’s Mommy Club, in partnership with Child’s Home Educational Center, is offering free weekly online workshop classes beginning June 2. It is open to children of Landers members who are aged four to seven. Kids can learn about nature, science, animals, and health. The classes will have storytelling, arts and crafts activities, science experiments, and games. The workshop classes will be held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and will run for four weeks. Each class will be 45 to 60 minutes long and will be facilitated by two preschool teachers from Child’s Home Education Center. Participants are required to have a stable internet connection, as well as a phone, tablet, or laptop with the Zoom app. They will receive the Zoom meeting ID and list of materials needed on the day of their kid’s scheduled class. Sign up at https://www.landers.ph/lofcustomermembership/buy. After signing up, go to the Landers Mommy Club Facebook page @LandersMommyClub and join the group. Only 15 kids will be accepted for each class and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/LandersPH/.

EU offers activities for kids online

Children are in for a special cultural treat as the European Union Delegation to the Philippines together with the Embassies of Czech Republic, France, Italy (through the Philippine-Italian Association), Poland, and the Manila Street Astronomers present a roster of films, games, songs, stories, and an astronomy event. Catch Lakbayin Natin ang EU on June 5 (10:30 a.m.) and Ode to the Stars and to the Moon on June 6 (8 p.m.) at the EU Delegation to the Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/EUDelegationToThePhilippines/).

We Are One: Global Film Festival

International film festivals have come together for the We Are One: Global Film Festival from May 29 to June 7. It features full-length films, shorts, music, documentaries, and panel discussions curated by the Berlin International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, New York Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/weareone. For more information and film schedules, visit http://www.weareoneglobalfestival.com/.

J.K. Rowling’s The Ickabog

Best-selling author J.K. Rowling is releasing her new children’s novel The Ickabog online. Ten chapters are currently available, with more chapters to be released over the next seven weeks. The book is set for full release in November. Read the chapters for free at https://www.theickabog.com/.

Swans for Relief

Thirty-two premier ballerinas from 22 dance companies in 14 countries — including Ballet Philippines’ Denise Parungao and Jemima Reyes — dance in a video of Le Cygne (The Swan) to the music by Camille Saint-Saëns, performed by cellist Wade Davis. The video was done in support of Swans for Relief, a fundraising program organized by dancers Misty Copeland and Joseph Phillips. Funds will be distributed to participating dance companies as a COVID-19 relief fund. To watch performances, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT14o5Wq7gE/ To donate, visit https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/swansforrelief.

TP’s Pantawid ng Tanghalan

Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) has launched the Pantawid ng Tanghalan fundraising project to sustain its commitment to providing the public with artistically excellent and socially relevant productions during the pandemic. From May 30 to June 30, TP will be streaming six of its original plays through iWant. The plays are Lam-ang: An Entho Epic Musical, Mabining Mandirigma, Coriolano, Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-araw, Der Kaufmann, and Sandosenang Sapatos. To donate, visit https://ktx.abs-cbn.com/events/25444/pantawid-ng-tanghalan.

NCCA online

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) presents The National Artists series of Sagisag Kultura TV at the NCCA YouTube channel (https://tinyurl.com/NationalArtistSeries). Episodes include videos of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa-Gocquinco, and National Artist for Music Lucrecia Kalisag.

NHCP Museums

LEARN about Philippine history by visiting various National Historical Commission of the Philippines museums across the country online. To do so, visit https://www.facebook.com/historymuseumsPH/photos/a.474072142988822/769005046828862/?type=3&theater.

The Royal Opera House online

AS part of its #OurHousetoYourHouse, the Royal Opera is streaming Cathy Marston’s The Cellist at its official Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/royaloperahouse/). The show stars Marcelino Sambé and Lauren Cuthbertson.

Foo Fighters at the Wembley Stadium

THE Foo Fighters’ concert film Live at the Wembley Stadium is now available online at the band’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcwBsntqjmY&feature=emb_title). The show features guest performances by Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.

Gateway Gallery’s interactive website

THE Gateway Gallery has launched its own website https://gatewaygallery.aranetacity.com/ featuring online exhibits including SiningSaysay: Philippine History in Art which retells the story of the Philippines from prehistory to the contemporary period in 30 monumental paintings. The gallery’s Art Heals: Echoes of the Pandemic exhibition is also on view.

Tanghalang Ateneo’s Lysistrata ng Bakwit

TANGHALANG Ateneo’s Lysistrata ng Bakwit (2018), an adaptation of Aristophanes’ Greek classic, is available for viewing online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8HhUJTXE2A&feature=emb_title. Directed by Ricardo Abad, the story is set in a fictional war-torn Philippine province and follows the revolt of women evacuees fighting their own wars over territory, familial ties, and tribal disputes.

Jerrold Tarog’s Senior Year

WRITTEN, directed, edited and scored by Jerrold Tarog, the film Senior Year (2010) is now streaming on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/404089376). Set in a Catholic school the story follows the struggles and anxieties of students during their final year in high school.

Dulaang UP’s Adarna

DULAANG UP’s play Adarna (2013) is now streaming online. Adapted by Vlad Gonzales and directed by José Estrella, the story is based on the narrative poem about three princes’ quest to save their ailing father by capturing the Adarna bird which is believed to have curative powers. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=hV2UPXi1wMA&feature=emb_title.

National Library of the Philippines

THE National Library of the Philippines offers free scholarly eResources including research related to COVID-19. The list of resources come from the National Emergency Library, Cochrane Library (Medical & Health Science), De Gruyter — Journals (Multidisciplinary), and more. To view access links to eResources, visit https://www.facebook.com/NLP1901/photos/a.375779479606724/912930019224998/?type=3&theater.

Jenkins at Royal Albert Hall

WELSH mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins performed alone at The Royal Albert Hall. The online show is the first in a series of performances of the London Together initiative as a tribute to the COVID-19 frontliners. Watch the concert at The Royal Albert Hall’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugNt9gmBgZSFEv4lc4B6Zg.

Guggenheim artbooks

THE Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum offers downloadable items from its archives for free. Titles include modern and contemporary art books about Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Vassily Kandinsky, Gustav Klimt and more. The archive is searchable by artist, year, medium and artistic style or movement. Visit the archives, https://archive.org/details/guggenheimmuseum.

BioBalance Wellness consultation

THE BioBalance Wellness Institute offers the following services and features: free online consultation with its clinical nutritionist and nurse practitioners, wellness expert psychologist; online health and immunity risk assessment; and more payment options for availed services and products. For more information, contact 0917-521-4860 or concierge@biobalanceinstitute.com.

IkotMNL tour from home

THE Museo de Intramuros, Ayala Museum, and Presidential Museum and Library in Malacañang Palace have partnered with Google to put their works online. Learn new things at home and visit the museums through a virtual tour: https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/malacanang-presidential-museum-and-library; https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/ayala-museum; and https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/intramuros-administration.

Film masterclasses

LEARN film concepts through interviews and film retrospectives from more than 60 directors, producers, writers, and actors including Bong Joon-Ho, Abbas Kiarostami, Agnès Varda, Spike Lee, Werner Herzog (with Roger Ebert), Jane Campion, Jodie Foster, Todd Haynes, Ang Lee, Jessica Lange, and Clint Eastwood. To watch, visit https://walkerart.org/magazine/series/dialogues-film-retrospectives.

Radiohead Concerts

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

David Guetta: United at Home

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

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 in-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/.

Color Tolkien characters

THE official Facebook page of the late 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.

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.

Print & Play activities for kids

KEEP kids entertained with new curated Print & Play activities from HP. The activities from craft making, mazes, 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, a Q&A with exhibit curator Julian Harrison. To view, visit https://artsandculture.google.com/project/harry-potter-a-history-of-magic.

The Nanny’s Pandemic Table Read

THE cast of the ‘90s comedy sitcom The Nanny reunites for The Pandemic Table Read of the show’s pilot episode. It stars Fran Drescher as Fran Fine who finds a job as a nanny to the three children of wealthy widower and theater producer Maxwell Sheffield (played by Charles Shaughnessy). To watch, visit Sony Pictures Entertainment’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3a6KuP1X14&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1eEwvK0A7lrLMnt2GTXBPoDR7y8_Q5TXMexTLIo9es9Gei4W1Yi-asITM.

Science experiments at home

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

Hogwarts online

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

Color Manolo Blahnik designs

MANOLO Blahnik shares a selection of his original sketches for coloring. The shoe designs are downloadable at https://www.manoloblahnik.com/gb/smile.html.

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 resplendent 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 or the Casa, which houses the Lhuilliers’ unrivalled collection of antiques, the Mosphil Lounge, and a passenger plane that was refitted to be a lounge for special occasions. To view the complete Palacio de Memoria’s virtual tour, visit https://www.palaciodememoria.com/tours. For more updates, follow @thepalaciodememoria on Facebook and @palacio.de.memoria on Instagram.

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/.

Vision and consistency

Being a visionary and having consistency in character are sometimes mistaken for stubbornness or self-absorption. These are negative traits attributed to people by conventional wisdom.

Early comments about Jeff Bezos and how Amazon only loses money as well as Elon Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX of Elon Musk are examples of ridicule that have now given way to accolades for these two visionaries.

Their consistency enabled them to realize their dreams, incurring the ire and consternation of many critics along the way.

On the local front, there are criticisms about the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and its “crazy secretary” who wants to put a foolish cable car across the Pasig River. Yet Medallin in Columbia won in the Sustainable Transport Awards for its gondola cable car system integrated into its bus rapid transport or BRT system.

Cable cars also cross the Moscow River connecting the Olympic stadium to Russia’s top university. This project was only started in 2017 with its Porsche-designed cable cars that not only lessened traffic but have proven to be a popular tourist attraction. Suddenly these ideas no longer look foolish.

Perhaps it’s from the constant dealing with Japanese firm NYK Line that DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade has learned to do long-term planning and implementation needed to achieve the larger vision. Mr. Tugade also moved the DoTr to Clark Freeport Zone and led by example by eliminating the DoTr-induced traffic along Ortigas Avenue.

More government officials should transfer to Clark to help declog Metro Manila and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Today there are many detractors regarding the new busways and the jeepney modernization program. But they fail to realize there is life after the pandemic and must instead use the situation to create plans that would help propel the economy while Filipinos leapfrog to a better post-pandemic life.

GROWTH AMID CRISIS
In one of his famous speeches, John F. Kennedy said: “When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters — one represents danger and one represents opportunity.” Kennedy was referring to “weiji” — the Mandarin word for crisis — and he reiterated in the same speech: “Along with danger, crisis is represented by opportunity.”

Indeed there are opportunities even in this current crisis brought about by the horrible pandemic, especially for companies belonging to essential industries. One of the least adversely affected by the economic turmoil is the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry. This, despite the collapse of global oil prices which has taken its toll on the rest of the downstream petroleum sector.

Considered a basic necessity, LPG remains the fuel of choice in most urban Filipino households. It is a relatively inelastic product, with price changes having minimal influence on demand.

Based on the latest statistics from the Department of Energy, the total LPG market in the Philippines reached 1.8 million metric tons in 2019, up by 1.5% from the previous year. In terms of market share, the top three firms are Petron Corp. at 28.2%, Liquigaz Philippines at 22.0%, and South Pacific, Inc. at 17.9%.

 

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

The value of cross-training employees working from home

With or without a lockdown, it looks like the pandemic will continue to keep us working at home until a vaccine is discovered and health protocols are firmly established. In the meantime, what would you advise to help us maximize our time working from home? — Rainbow Warrior.

An elderly man was taking his first airplane flight. He was much more relaxed than he had expected, except for one problem. His ears would not stop popping. He mentioned this to the flight attendant, who returned after few minutes to hand the old man chewing gum, explaining that the gum would keep his ears from popping.

At the end of the flight, the man thanked the flight attendant: “The gum worked fine. I did not notice any pressure in my ears. But I have another problem. I’m having a terrible time getting this gum out of my ears.”

There are times when we presume to know how things work. Work from home schemes are a partial solution for coping with COVID-19. People managers are constantly urged to maximize employee productivity, in the hope that when the pandemic ends, everything will return with renewed vigor.

If there’s one approach that I would recommend, I will not hesitate to assign your workers for cross-trained in other jobs outside of their original job description, department, or even geographical work location. Who says cross-training can’t be done by people who are working from home?

After all, cross-training is nothing but providing opportunities to employees to perform other jobs. Management should explain such assignments well by showing workers that it’s also in their own interest. Versatility can be beneficial to anyone. It’s a matter of selling the idea to employees.

BENEFITS OF CROSS-TRAINING
There are some approaches that you can take in convincing people to accept cross-training even if they’re assigned to work from home. The following measures, translated here in the form of objectives, may help management overcome the hurdles of convincing some employees resisting the idea:

One, to have a greater sense of job security. Talented and multi-skilled workers increase their value to the organization. This has the potential to create a general sense of well-being, motivating people who are looking for long-term relationship with their employer.

Two, to avoid demotivation and dissatisfaction. At times, people become bored by the monotony of their jobs. Encouraging workers to learn other skills at home helps minimize downtime, increase productivity and reduce below-average work performance. This also helps prevent people from looking for other jobs.

Three, to improve versatility in problem-solving. When people are assigned to other things, they become aware of the many challenges in solving operational issues which they may not have encountered before. When assigning other tasks, workers are given the opportunity to learn new insights and perspectives.

Four, to reconcile worker’s interest with other tasks. Every attempt should be made to make other tasks complement the career interests and long-term goals of each individual employee. This includes convincing them to learn less desirable tasks or consider performing a difficult project.

Last, to allow the workers to choose their mentors. This may not be limited to choosing their current boss or senior work colleagues, but may include other managers or achievers in other work areas. Mentoring is based on trust. Without trust, it would be difficult to do cross-training when the workers are forced to accept mentors they don’t like.

CHALLENGES
Unfortunately, not all cross-training programs are successful. More so if it’s not done on an eyeball-to-eyeball, face-to-face basis where the mentees and mentors can maximize the potential of such programs.

However, this is not sufficient reason to stop cross-training altogether, especially when everyone is trying to deal with the pandemic by working from home. Sometimes, the challenges include supervisors and managers who refuse to mentor their subordinates, due to their incompetence or lack of self-confidence.

To correct this issue, there’s no other way but to make mentoring part of every manager’s key performance matrix. They should be evaluated based on how they promote cross-training, if only to ensure business continuity. It’s far better than allowing people to enjoy their downtime.

 

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

Solar industry seeks digital shift in stimulus package

LEADERS of the Philippine Solar and Storage Alliance (PSSEA) have appealed to lawmakers for a stimulus package that covers what they call the greening and digitization of the energy infrastructure.

In a letter to Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, the group cited the problem faced by electricity consumers arising from their use of an old metering system. The lawmaker chairs the Senate’s energy committee.

Ma. Theresa C. Capellan, who chairs PSSEA, said “the inefficiencies of our present meters, particularly in reading [kilowatt-hour] consumption, in billing customers, and collecting payments are not where we want to be in the future.”

“These experiences could have been avoided if we had smart meters allowing customers to procure electricity online and real-time. Such technology would have avoided billing disputes and also protect utility workers who would have to read meters,” she said, citing the issues that arose during the coronavirus pandemic.

The alliance is advocating the need for investments in energy infrastructure as the country moves to recover from the effects of the medical crisis. It said the industry considers the present circumstances as an opportunity to encourage a new way of thinking about electric power delivery.

How PSEi member stocks performed — June 4, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

BSP boosting cybersecurity measures as online transactions grow

THE central bank is working to strengthen cybersecurity measures through regulations, cyber surveillance and collaboration with other government agencies to protect consumers in an era of increasing digital payments.

“We will continue to find innovative strategies to sustain the resilience of the financial services industry as we transition towards the New Economy,’’ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said in an online briefing.

Mr. Diokno said fraud may come in forms of scams related to investment products. He also noted those recruiting people to lend their personal accounts to receive online transfers from illegal sources in the guise of donations.

The central bank chief said financial institutions are required to have fraud management mechanisms that flag unusual transactions. He said the BSP is regularly coordinating with financial institutions as well as the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police in monitoring financial crimes.

The BSP said transactions in InstaPay and PESONet have grown due to the coronavirus crisis.

“InstaPay exhibited sharp growth as this real-time funds transfer facility has gained greater traction especially for online payments for goods and services and low-value remittances,” the BSP said.

InstaPay is an electronic fund transfer scheme that allows amounts up to P50,000 to be credited real-time to a recipient account.

Financial assistance from government agencies also boosted transactions in PESONet, which processes bulk fund transfers of amounts more than P50,000 that are credited by the end of the banking day.

“During the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), it is notable that the volume and value of InstaPay and PESONet spiked particularly when the ECQ was in effect for the full months of April and May, increasing by 84% and 24%, respectively,” the BSP said.

Meanwhile, BSP Director for Technology Risk and Innovation Supervision Department Melchor T. Plabasan said banks have been boosting cybersecurity measures to guard against fraud.

“They have deployed stronger networks and authentication controls,” he said. — LWTN

PSEi climbs past 6,500 as virus concerns ease

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

LOCAL SHARES continued to surge on Thursday as the main index hit the 6,500 mark, marking the market’s best finish since pre-lockdown days.

The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed 271.84 points or 4.35% to end Thursday’s session at 6,517.49. The broader all shares index rose 126.72 points or 3.46% to 3,785.03.

This is the PSEi’s seventh straight day of increase and its best close since it hit 6,770.38 on March 6.

“Philippine stocks finished higher Thursday, adding to several sessions of gains as economic data pointed to less severe damage from the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic than feared, leaving major equity benchmarks at their loftiest levels since early March,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile message.

After US-based human resource group ADP, LLC reported better than expected job cuts in May, Mr. Limlingan said investors have started getting calmer about the pandemic.

US markets closed with gains on Wednesday: the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices picked up 2.05%, 1.36% and 0.78%, respectively.

Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Associate Piper Chaucer E. Tan also said via text that Thursday’s rise mirrored the performance of US equities.

“The (local) market has been superb…and I think this is brought by the rally coming from US spilling over here,” Mr. Tan said.

While COVID-19 is still an unsolved problem and there is no vaccine yet, governments have started easing lockdowns and investors took it as an added sign of recovery.

“On our shores, this is a positive response on the partial opening of the economy caused by (the relaxed lockdown) in National Capital Region,” Mr. Tan said.

“I’m getting cautious at this and I think this is prone to profit taking, and valuations and geopolitical tensions here in the Philippines (Anti-Terror Bill) and series of protests in US (George Floyd) is a similar scenario before the COVID-19 cases spiked in late February,” he said. “At some point, it (the market) will correct (because of) these issues plus the COVID-19 vaccine, which some say may take a year or two to make.”

All sectoral indices at the PSE ended Thursday’s session higher: financials by 75.01 points or 5.92% to 1,341.11; holding firms by 343.97 points or 5.42% to 6,686.22; property by 89.10 points or 2.78% to 3,286.41; services by 38.61 points or 2.78% to 1,425.10; mining and oil by 124.56 points or 2.72% to 4,688.40; and industrials by 119.23 points or 1.54% to 7,835.01.

Value turnover jumped to P11.52 billion from P8.25 billion the previous day, as some 2.20 billion issues switched hands. Foreigners recorded net purchases of P1.37 billion on Thursday from a net selling of P329.35 million on Wednesday. Advancers beat decliners, 132 against 65, while 42 names ended unchanged.

Peso climbs to P50 per dollar on improved global risk appetite

THE PESO strengthened further on Thursday on positive market sentiment amid easing lockdowns.

The local unit closed at P50 per dollar yesterday, rising by 10 centavos from its P50.10 close on Wednesday.

The local unit started the trading day stronger at P49.93 per dollar. It hit a low of P50.03 and strengthened to as high as P49.92 against the greenback.

Dollars traded on Thursday went down to $602.2 million from $855.72 million recorded on Wednesday.

Yesterday’s close was the strongest in more than two years or since the peso closed P49.87 versus the dollar on Jan. 5, 2018.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said via text that the peso appreciated following the “hefty gains” seen in global stock markets as more economies started to reopen, allowing more businesses to bounce back.

Mr. Ricafort said the peso also ended stronger on the weakening US dollar.

He added that the market participants likely also priced in bets on inflation data to be reported today, June 5.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last week forecasted that headline inflation in May likely settled between 1.9% and 2.7%, giving a point projection of 2.3%.

For the trader, the local unit could weaken on Friday “ahead of likely downbeat US labor reports.”

Mr. Ricafort sees the peso closing between P49.85 and P50.10 per dollar today while the trader gave a forecast range of P49.85 to P50.15. — B.M. Laforga

Anti-malaria drug trials resume

THE Philippines will resume its use of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in clinical trials for treating the novel coronavirus, taking its cue from the World Health Organization (WHO) which cleared the drug after a safety review.

The WHO clearance came out after a careful study by medical experts, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing on Thursday. “We will listen and follow, and we will continue using hydroxychloroquine.”

WHO suspended the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine last week as treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019 after a study published by the Lancet medical journal found that a number of patients who used the drug had died.

The journal cited potentially serious side effects from the drug including heart arrhythmia.

But the WHO said it found no reason to modify the trial protocol after its review.

The Philippines joined the so-called solidarity trial in April along with other countries to test the effectiveness of four possible treatments for the coronavirus.

Experts earlier found the arthritis medicine that is also used to prevent malaria to be a promising treatment for the coronavirus, which has sickened 6.6 million and killed about 388,000 people worldwide.

US President Donald J. Trump last month said he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive medicine against the coronavirus.

Hydroxychloroquine is one of the four drug and drug combinations being used for the WHO’s solidarity trial that seeks to find a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. The others are remdesivir, lopinavir and ritonavir combined, and two drugs plus interferon beta.

In the Philippines, COVID-19 infections rose by 634 to 20,382, the Department of Health (DoH) said yesterday.

The death toll rose to 984 after 10 more patients died, while 95 more patients have gotten well, bringing the total recoveries to 4,248, it said in a bulletin.

Of the new cases, 313 were fresh or test results validated in the past te days, while 321 were validated late, DoH said.

The agency said there were now 52 laboratories that can test COVID-19 samples.

The agency started classifying new infections after a spike as local laboratories boosted their testing capacities.

The spike also coincided with a relaxed lockdown in many parts of the country including Manila, the capital and nearby cities.

Ms. Vergeire said at an online news briefing later in the day the decreasing trend in the number of cases per day as well as increased doubling time of cases and deaths showed improved case management.

Meanwhile, the Philippines now has a daily testing capacity of 42,000, as the government continues to expand targeted testing in highly populated areas.

The government would focus on boosting capacity in Metro Manila, Cebu and other densely populated regions, Vince Dizon, deputy chief enforcer of the National Task Force on COVID-19, said at a separate news briefing on Thursday.

Also yesterday, the Department of Justice said 222 inmates from the facilities of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) had infected with the coronavirus. Ten of them have died and 31 recovered.

In a statement, the agency said 48 BuCor staff had caught the virus, four of whom recovered.

The national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City posted the highest confirmed cases with 140 inmates and 30 staff members, followed by the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City with 82 inmates and seven employees who tested positive.

Eleven staff members from its national headquarters had also tested positive, it said — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Gillian M. Cortez

House body OKs bill extending Duterte powers vs coronavirus

CONGRESSMEN acting as members of the Committee of the Whole approved on Wednesday evening a bill that will extend the special powers given to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to fight the coronavirus by three more months.

The committee barred any interpellations, saying these may be done during plenary debates instead.

The measure, which will extend the law expiring on June 24 until the end of September, combined three House bills and one resolution. House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez presided over the body, while Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio R. Sy-Alvarado sponsored the measure. A Committee of the Whole functions is composed of all the members of the House acting upon a measure.

The law enacted in March empowered the President to realign the national budget for anti-COVID-19 measures. Under the law, low-income households were supposed to get as much as P8,000 in monthly cash aid for two months.

The bill proposes a P162-billion standby fund for recovery and response. This includes P12 billion for the purchase of test kits, P18 billion for cash-for-work programs, P5 billion for people in crisis, P21 billion displaced workers and P50 billion for business loans.

It also allots P21 billion in direct cash subsidy and interest-free loans to agri-fishery enterprises, P21 billion for affected companies in the transportation industry, P10 billion for tourism and P4 billion for “smart campuses” that invest in information and communications technology.

The House still has to approve the bill on second and third readings. The Senate, which approved a counterpart bill on second reading on June 3, ended its Thursday session failed to pass it on third reading in the absence of a notice from the presidential palace certifying the measure as urgent.

Congress will adjourn sine die (with no set date for resumption) on Friday. — Genshen L. Espedido and Charmaine A. Tadalan

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