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Thursday, January 4, 2024
PH fruit products exporter targets EU
By Jenica Faye Garcia, Manila Times
January 4, 2024
SOUTH Cotabato-based fruit products exporter Kablon Farms is aiming to expand its reach to the European Union with the extension of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Wednesday.
"We would like to expand our product offering to the European Union ... The biggest challenge for us was relearning how to export other products to another country," Kablon Farms co-owner Leonor Pantua said in the DTI statement.
The company currently exports fruit-based products to Canada, Singapore, and several other countries, the Trade department said.
Based in Tupi, South Cotabato, Kablon Farms currently produces jams, jellies, tropical fruit purées, chocolate bars, juices, virgin coconut oil, and cacao butter, among others. It has three retail centers in South Cotabato and a distribution outlet in Davao that employs a total of 105 full-time workers.
Approximately 90 percent of Kablon Farms' revenues come from domestic sales in supermarkets, retail shops, other food manufacturers or end-users and online sales, while 10 percent comes from exports.
Given strong demand overseas for Philippine fruits and flavors, Pantua said the firm was targeting increased exports of cacao and cacao-based products.
The extension of the GSP+ "opens opportunities for us to market a wider range of products," she added.
"The EU market seems particularly attracted to the distinctive flavor of single-origin Philippine cacao."
At the same time, she urged Philippine businesses to continue to avail of the GSP privileges and expand exports and market access to the EU.
Last year, the European Commission had proposed the rollover of the current GSP+ program for another four years, lifting concerns that the Philippines could lose its trade privileges due to its failure to address a number of concerns.
The EU grants trade preferences to developing countries under the GSP facility to help grow trade, reduce poverty and support sustainable development via three schemes: Standard GSP, GSP+ and Everything But Arms or duty-free access for all goods except arms and ammunition.
The Philippines is covered by the GSP+ program, which involves having to comply with 27 international conventions relating to human rights and good governance, among others.
Travelers’ New Year’s wish: A bigger, better international airport in Manila
On top of every Filipino traveler’s wish list for the New Year is to depart from and arrive at a hassle-free and comfortable Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), four groups of companies submitted last week bids for its modernization and rehabilitation, namely: the Manila International Airport Consortium (MIAC), Asian Airport Consortium, GMR Airport Consortium, and SMC SAP & Co. Consortium. The DOTr will conduct a technical review of the bid submissions after 10 days, which will be followed by a financial review. Announcement of the winning bidder could take place within the first quarter of 2024.
The 15-year NAIA public-private partnership (PPP) concession agreement stipulates that the winning concessionaire will rehabilitate passenger terminals and airside facilities; develop commercial assets and utility systems; and provide surface access facilities, inter-terminal transfer facilities and services. The project seeks to increase the current annual passenger capacity of the NAIA from the current 35 million to at least 62 million.
It will also establish the connection of the NAIA Terminal 3 to the Metro Manila Subway station, conduct overall beautification of the airports terminals, and incorporation of sustainable measures in the area. Modernization of communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems is also included in the package.
Recall that the previous administration rejected the MIAC’s unsolicited proposal to rehabilitate the airport at a cost of P267 billion. The Marcos administration decided on a solicited proposal mode, capping the cost at P170.6 billion. The 15-year concession period could be extended for another 10 years, contingent on performance.
The rehabilitation of NAIA, the premier aviation gateway, is a crucial first step in the country’s efforts to reestablish itself as a favored tourist destination. Its ASEAN neighbors Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia, have attracted hordes of foreign tourists whose numbers are projected to even exceed pre-Covid visitor levels. But more importantly, it must provide adequate, safe and satisfactory services and facilities to all who travel throughout our archipelago.
The eventual privatization of airport services at the NAIA will bring an end to more than four decades of government administration. In 1982, Executive Order No. 778 created the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) under the general supervision of the then Ministry of Transportation and Communications that was later renamed as the DOTC. The MIAA charter originally provided that 65 percent of the MIAA’s annual gross operating income be reverted to the general fund for the maintenance and operations of other international and domestic airports in the country; this amount was scaled down to 20 percent in 1987. Even after the enactment of Republic Act No. 6639 renaming the MIAA as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the MIAA retained its corporate name since the law did not amend its original or revised charters.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said: "This is a very important project of the government as we want all our passengers to improve their travel experience here in Manila…We look forward to working with the winning bidder in making the MIA one of the best airports in the world.”
This is a New Year’s wish that is evidently shared by tens of thousands of travelers.
'Anyone But You,' global box-office winner, opens in PH Jan. 17
BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT
Jan 3, 2024 11:00 AM
AT A GLANCE
Cast includes Sweeney, Powell,Alexandra Shipp, Darren Barnet, Hadley Robinson, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Michelle Hurd, Bryan Brown and GaTa.
Anyone But You, director Will Gluck’s new edgy romantic comedy starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, has charmed its way to the global box office.
The film opened in the United States just before Christmas. It opened in several overseas markets over the weekend, including in the United Kingdom and Australia, where the film is primarily set. Anyone But You has earned a total of US$33.5 million, with a few markets still lined up for the film’s opening, including Spain, France, Italy, and the Philippines, where it opens in cinemas Jan. 17, 2024.
“I think audiences want to see movies that are relevant, authentic, and cinematic – but most of all, fun,” says Gluck, a fan favorite in the genre, thanks to previous works including Easy A and Friends With Benefits.
In Anyone But You, Sweeney (Euphoria) and Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) play romantic enemies who must put aside their vendettas and pretend to be a head-over-heels couple to keep the peace at a wedding they both attend. The film also stars Alexandra Shipp, Darren Barnet, Hadley Robinson, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Michelle Hurd, Bryan Brown, and GaTa.
About 'Anyone But You'
In the edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date, something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold – until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.
Directed by Will Gluck, co-written by Gluck and Ilana Wolpert. Produced by Gluck, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Joe Roth, and executive-produced by Sweeney.
Cast includes Sweeney, Powell, Alexandra Shipp, Darren Barnet, Hadley Robinson, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Michelle Hurd, Bryan Brown and GaTa.
Opening in Philippine cinemas on Jan. 17, Anyone But You is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, the local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #AnyoneButYou
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
TWICE teases comeback in 'With YOU-th' mood film
Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com
January 3, 2024 | 1:34pm
MANILA, Philippines — K-pop girl group TWICE is gearing up for the release of its 13th extended play "With YOU-th" next month after a teasing mood film.
The group and its agency JYP Entertainment released the short mood film on social media which sees the members Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu all together in a forest.
The old-school, slow motion filming nature of the video gave the girls dressed in white, gray, and blue a dreamy, ethereal feel, holding hands at several clips.
"Just like we always do," reads text in the mood film. "It's our golden days."
The mood film ended with the announcement of the pre-release single "I Got You" dropping on February 2 — already available for pre-save and pre-order — ahead of the "With YOU-th" extended play on February 23.
TWICE's last extended play was 2023's "Ready to Be" which it promoted as its third global tour, including a two-night stop at the Philippine Arena.
It was the group's second time performing in the Philippines having previously brough its "Twicelights" tour to the Mall of Asia Arena last June 2019.
ECHOES UNHEARD: LARAWAN ON WINGS
by Lucell Larawan
(The setting of this poem is during my solo show at the Museo Iloilo.)
In Museo's hush, my art unfurls its tale,
Guests gathered, but a void in the familial trail.
In the opening's glow, where accolades sing,
My father's absence, a quiet sting.
Larawan on Wings, mythical birds take flight,
On canvas, their majesty, a solo artist's delight.
Yet, in the gallery's quiet, a void so wide,
Father's seat empty, by time or choice.
Whispers of colors, like feathers on air,
Unheard by him, in that vacant chair.
A dance of solitude, a poignant ballet,
Unseen admirer, shadows at bay.
Palette of sorrow, emotions run deep,
Unspoken pain in the silence, secrets to keep.
On gallery walls, where the birds take wing,
Longing for acknowledgment, in echoes they sing.
The mysterious ways of God
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By Fr. Roy Cimagala
Chaplain
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)
Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
THE story of how St. Andrew discovered his vocation as one of the apostles gives us an interesting insight into the mysterious ways of God. (cfr. Jn 1,35-42) As narrated in the gospel, he was just curious about where Christ was staying, and not only did he end up becoming an apostle, he managed to draw his own brother, St. Peter, to be one also.
Things like this can happen in life. What may appear at first as something insignificant and casual may end up as something extraordinary and very special. It can even happen that what may appear first to be something against the things of God can provoke an instant conversion, just like the case of St. Paul who in the middle of his campaign against the early Christians heard the voice of Christ that led to his conversion.
The providence of God, the ways of God, can certainly work beyond what we can imagine and expect. It can adapt itself to the ways of men and can take advantage of whatever human condition and circumstance there is to execute his divine designs for us. As is said, God can write straight with crooked lines.
There have been many stories of unlikely characters who became saints or at least made significant transformations for the better in their lives. That was the case of St. Augustine, for example.
Of course, there also have been unfortunate stories of men and women who started well but ended badly. This only shows that in our relationship with God, there is always the interplay of God’s grace and our freedom. It’s in how we use our freedom that would determine whether things would go north or south.
What we should draw from this observation is that every event, condition and circumstance of our life, whether considered humanly good or bad, can be a pathway to God if we only know how to deal with these situations properly, as shown to us by Christ himself.
Yes, Christ has shown us how to deal with any situation, whether we are at the peak of human glory and success, or at the abyss of the worst human misery imaginable. That is why we can never overemphasize the need for us to know and follow Christ who himself said that he is “the way, the truth and the life” for us.
Making Christ the center of our life, making him alive in our life through our prayer, studying his life and words, and having recourse to the sacraments, etc., should be the main concern that we should have. After all, he is the one who will enable us to make any situation in our life as a way to heaven, a means to achieve our sanctification which is the fullness and perfection of our humanity.
That is also something that we have to be more aware of. The fullness and perfection of our humanity is when we truly become God’s image and likeness, sharers of his divine life and nature, as he wants us to be. This truth of faith may sound too incredible to us, but that is just how it is.
Let’s remember that we are not meant to understand everything about God and ourselves. What we are meant is to be guided by faith, hope and charity more than anything else.
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