![\"Toyota](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/AR-Roy-Cars2.jpg\")
by Roy Stephen C. Canivel
\nThe Philippines\u2019 car industry remains in a sweet spot.
\nApart from sales rising yearly, the sector also recently received government support \u2014 a multibillion dollar financial incentive to help transform the country into a regional auto manufacturing hub.
\nUnderstandably, the challenge is daunting, ambitious even.
\nAfter all, other countries such as Thailand seem to be a better choice than the Philippines as far as car manufacturing is concerned.
\nThis much is admitted by Rommel R. Gutierrez, first vice-president for Government Affairs at Toyota Motor Philippines.
\nTake Toyota\u2019s Vios and Innova models, Mr. Gutierrez said.
\nWhile both vehicles are made locally and in Thailand, \u201cit\u2019s cheaper to import vehicles than to produce locally,\u201d he said.
\nThis is because Toyota\u2019s local unit has no choice but buy more components from abroad, unlike Toyota\u2019s Thai assembler which sources car parts locally.
\n\u201cThailand\u2019s localization is very high, more than 80% while ours are only at 40%,\u201d the Toyota executive said, adding that the industry will become more competitive if it sources its parts locally.
\n![\"Graph\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/AR-Roy-Cars.jpg\")
Program seeks to make cars have more local content
\nStarting 2010, the Philippines found it more difficult to compete when import barriers were pulled down in member countries of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).
\nUnder the AFTA\u2019s Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT), taxes on imports \u2014 including those previously imposed on vehicles and components \u2014 were virtually removed.
\nAs a result, several auto parts suppliers and some car manufacturers left the country since it was no longer competitive, Mr. Gutierrez explained.
\nAfter all, it was cheaper to import cars assembled abroad than it was to build them here.
\nBut now, the government \u2014 through its Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program \u2014 plans to turn the situation around by increasing localized content to 60% from 40% by 2022.
\nWith locally-built cars containing more parts sourced domestically, companies such as Toyota Philippines \u201ccan benefit,\u201d Mr. Gutierrez said.
\nThe CARS program, established by Executive Order 182 that was signed by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III on May 29 last year, provides incentives to three car makers to locally produce three car models with a production volume of at least 200,000 units respectively for up to six years, or an average of 33,333 vehicles per year.
\nThe program also provides auto manufacturers and parts makers operating in the Philippines P4.5 billion in annual support for six years, or P27 billion in total, as well as other non-fiscal measures.
\nFor its part, Toyota Motor Corp. plans to invest P3.22 billion ($70 million) in its Philippine division to increase local output and qualify for a new tax incentive. The Japanese automaker will build 230,000 Vios subcompact sedans.
\nThis would help \u201cclose the cost gap\u201d between importing and local production, he said, adding that the domestic sector needs to achieve economies of scale, bringing down cost of localization and resulting in more competitive production.
\n\u201cYou need to produce a lot because you need to spread the cost,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy, but we are more than willing to take the challenge kasi (because) that\u2019s the requirement.\u201d
\nThe Toyota executive, who is also president of Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), said that it has been a year since the \u201cstart of motorization,\u201d which he said signaled a spike in total industry car sales reflecting the stronger purchasing power of the local market.
\n![\"The](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/AR-Roy-Cars3.jpg\")
Toyota, Mitsubishi qualify for car program
\nToyota has consistently reported the biggest sales in the Philippines, taking 45.12% of market share as of June this year alone, according to a monthly report issued by CAMPI together with the Truck Manufacturers Association.
\nBy 2020, total market sales is expected to reach 500,000 units. However, this may be reached earlier than anticipated since 320,000 units were delivered last year, meeting the 2018 target of 300,000 way ahead of schedule.
\nAs of this writing, only two companies qualified for the program: Toyota and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines. They received their certificates of recognition last June.
\nThe fate of the third player that would help reach the program\u2019s goal of producing 600,000 units is still unknown.
\n\u201cWe still don\u2019t know if we\u2019re going to open it up,\u201d Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo told reporters last June while at the sidelines of Mitsubishi\u2019s groundbreaking ceremony of its Laguna stamping facility.
\nManufacturers need to meet \u201cthe production volume that is needed for the Philippines to surmount the economies of scale and be regionally competitive,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cIf they are accepted into the program, that does not mean that they will be already receiving the incentives. It depends on their performance,\u201d he told reporters. Incentives would only be enjoyed by the manufacturers after they produce their first 100,000 units.
\nMeanwhile, as the country\u2019s consistent top-selling car maker, Mr. Gutierrez says that the growing traffic does not necessarily post a harm on Toyota\u2019s performance, citing increasing industry growth on the back of solid consumer demand.
\n\u201cTraffic doesn\u2019t seem to have an effect on our sales,\u201d he said. \u201cIn fact, people would rather buy a car than suffer through our public transportation. That\u2019s the irony of it.\u201d
\nHe also pointed out that car sales in the provinces \u2014 where roads are not as congested \u2014 remain substantial.
\nA lot of dealerships are now being put in the provinces and, as a result, sales are being dispersed across the region, he said. Sixty percent of its sales are in Metro Manila while the rest are divided among the rest of the areas.
\n\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014
\nRoy Stephen C. Canivel (@roycanivel on Twitter) covers telecommunications and trade for 大象传媒. He likes reading a good book and occasionally checks their summaries on several Web sites.
\n", "content_text": "Toyota in the Philippines still expects sales to grow. (AFP)\nby Roy Stephen C. Canivel\nThe Philippines\u2019 car industry remains in a sweet spot.\nApart from sales rising yearly, the sector also recently received government support \u2014 a multibillion dollar financial incentive to help transform the country into a regional auto manufacturing hub.\nUnderstandably, the challenge is daunting, ambitious even.\nAfter all, other countries such as Thailand seem to be a better choice than the Philippines as far as car manufacturing is concerned.\nThis much is admitted by Rommel R. Gutierrez, first vice-president for Government Affairs at Toyota Motor Philippines.\nTake Toyota\u2019s Vios and Innova models, Mr. Gutierrez said.\nWhile both vehicles are made locally and in Thailand, \u201cit\u2019s cheaper to import vehicles than to produce locally,\u201d he said.\nThis is because Toyota\u2019s local unit has no choice but buy more components from abroad, unlike Toyota\u2019s Thai assembler which sources car parts locally.\n\u201cThailand\u2019s localization is very high, more than 80% while ours are only at 40%,\u201d the Toyota executive said, adding that the industry will become more competitive if it sources its parts locally.\n\nProgram seeks to make cars have more local content\nStarting 2010, the Philippines found it more difficult to compete when import barriers were pulled down in member countries of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).\nUnder the AFTA\u2019s Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT), taxes on imports \u2014 including those previously imposed on vehicles and components \u2014 were virtually removed.\nAs a result, several auto parts suppliers and some car manufacturers left the country since it was no longer competitive, Mr. Gutierrez explained.\nAfter all, it was cheaper to import cars assembled abroad than it was to build them here.\nBut now, the government \u2014 through its Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program \u2014 plans to turn the situation around by increasing localized content to 60% from 40% by 2022.\nWith locally-built cars containing more parts sourced domestically, companies such as Toyota Philippines \u201ccan benefit,\u201d Mr. Gutierrez said.\nThe CARS program, established by Executive Order 182 that was signed by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III on May 29 last year, provides incentives to three car makers to locally produce three car models with a production volume of at least 200,000 units respectively for up to six years, or an average of 33,333 vehicles per year.\nThe program also provides auto manufacturers and parts makers operating in the Philippines P4.5 billion in annual support for six years, or P27 billion in total, as well as other non-fiscal measures.\nFor its part, Toyota Motor Corp. plans to invest P3.22 billion ($70 million) in its Philippine division to increase local output and qualify for a new tax incentive. The Japanese automaker will build 230,000 Vios subcompact sedans.\nThis would help \u201cclose the cost gap\u201d between importing and local production, he said, adding that the domestic sector needs to achieve economies of scale, bringing down cost of localization and resulting in more competitive production.\n\u201cYou need to produce a lot because you need to spread the cost,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy, but we are more than willing to take the challenge kasi (because) that\u2019s the requirement.\u201d\nThe Toyota executive, who is also president of Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), said that it has been a year since the \u201cstart of motorization,\u201d which he said signaled a spike in total industry car sales reflecting the stronger purchasing power of the local market.\nThe Philippine unit of Mitsubishi is one of two carmakers that qualified for a special program to boost auto production in the country. (AFP)\nToyota, Mitsubishi qualify for car program\nToyota has consistently reported the biggest sales in the Philippines, taking 45.12% of market share as of June this year alone, according to a monthly report issued by CAMPI together with the Truck Manufacturers Association.\nBy 2020, total market sales is expected to reach 500,000 units. However, this may be reached earlier than anticipated since 320,000 units were delivered last year, meeting the 2018 target of 300,000 way ahead of schedule.\nAs of this writing, only two companies qualified for the program: Toyota and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines. They received their certificates of recognition last June.\nThe fate of the third player that would help reach the program\u2019s goal of producing 600,000 units is still unknown.\n\u201cWe still don\u2019t know if we\u2019re going to open it up,\u201d Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo told reporters last June while at the sidelines of Mitsubishi\u2019s groundbreaking ceremony of its Laguna stamping facility.\nManufacturers need to meet \u201cthe production volume that is needed for the Philippines to surmount the economies of scale and be regionally competitive,\u201d he said.\n\u201cIf they are accepted into the program, that does not mean that they will be already receiving the incentives. It depends on their performance,\u201d he told reporters. Incentives would only be enjoyed by the manufacturers after they produce their first 100,000 units.\nMeanwhile, as the country\u2019s consistent top-selling car maker, Mr. Gutierrez says that the growing traffic does not necessarily post a harm on Toyota\u2019s performance, citing increasing industry growth on the back of solid consumer demand.\n\u201cTraffic doesn\u2019t seem to have an effect on our sales,\u201d he said. \u201cIn fact, people would rather buy a car than suffer through our public transportation. That\u2019s the irony of it.\u201d \nHe also pointed out that car sales in the provinces \u2014 where roads are not as congested \u2014 remain substantial.\nA lot of dealerships are now being put in the provinces and, as a result, sales are being dispersed across the region, he said. Sixty percent of its sales are in Metro Manila while the rest are divided among the rest of the areas.\n\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\nRoy Stephen C. Canivel (@roycanivel on Twitter) covers telecommunications and trade for 大象传媒. He likes reading a good book and occasionally checks their summaries on several Web sites.", "date_published": "2016-07-31T14:42:10+08:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-31T14:42:10+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "auto", "Cars", "Mitsubishi", "spare parts", "Toyota", "Integration" ] }, { "id": "http://www.bworldonline.com/?p=147127", "url": "/integration/2016/07/28/147127/fast-fashion-brands-jack-up-competition-in-retail-sector/", "title": "Fast fashion brands jack up competition in retail sector", "content_html": "![\"Clothes](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Zara3.jpg\")
by\u00a0Josielyn Luna-Manuel, Special Features Editor\u00a0
\nIt\u2019s not something every fashionista keeps track of.
\nBut it nevertheless is a worldwide trend that fashion retailers keep tabs on.
\nIt\u2019s called fast fashion, referring broadly to upscale brands \u2014 \u201cthe latest fashion from the catwalk of Milan\u201d \u2014 that can be brought, displayed, and hopefully sold by retailers as quickly as possible, said Frances Yu, chief retail strategist at local training and consultancy firm Mansmith & Fielders and former Vice President and Business Unit Head of Rustan\u2019s Supermarket.
\nFast fashion \u201cpresents a level of competition that the local retail industry has never faced in its history of retailing,\u201d Ms. Yu said in an interview. \u201c[Local retailers] are competing with these international chains that have economies of scale and very excellent supply chain and logistics that can really outperform the locals on all aspects \u2013 from assortment to quality to price to speed, so it would be very difficult for the locals to actually survive that onslaught,\u201d Ms. Yu said.
\nAs expected, fast fashion has intensified competition among retailers.
\nFast fashion brands such as Zara, UNIQLO, and H&M not only offer competitive prices and target the same customers, but also bring in the latest fashions to their network of stores in just two weeks, Ms. Yu said.
\nMoreover, inventories of these brands can be replenished every seven days, she explained, adding that previously, luxury brands were brought home by Rustan\u2019s and its retail unit, Stores Specialist Inc. (SSI), the Philippines\u2019 largest specialty retailer.
\n\u201cNewness drives frequency of visits. If your inventory doesn’t change in six months, why should I go there seeing the same display?\u201d Ms. Yu said.
\nIn one way or another, fast fashion may explain why SSI\u2019s income dropped 54.5% in the first quarter of the year, according to Alexander Adrian O. Tiu, senior equity analyst at AB Capital Securities, Inc.
\nBased on a 大象传媒 article published last May 14, \u201cthe Tantoco-led company netted P121.6 million in the three months ending March, down 54.5% from the P267 million earned in the same period last year.\u201d
\nThe income decline was due to \u201can increase in competition in the local retail market, given the entry of UNIQLO and H&M,\u201d Mr.\u00a0Tiu said\u00a0in an interview in late June.
\nThe cut in SSI\u2019s net profit was also attributable to either a drop in gross profit margin, its high inventory levels, and the change in lifestyle of its customers, Mr. Tiu added.
\n\u201cFor the retailer, high inventory levels require the need to drop prices of products or go on sale just so they can let the inventory out,\u201d Mr. Tiu said.
\nDespite its financial results, AB Capital still has a \u201chold recommendation for SSI. We think that the stock is below its fair value,\u201d Mr. Tiu said.
\nSince foreign brands cannot be stopped dominating and entering the local market, he said that the route should be to focus on other segments that could potentially bring in more revenue.
\n\u201cWhat you have to do is try to get another pie which is another segment that’s currently untapped. I think that\u2019s the key for SSI. They’ve been trying to bring in brands from other categories,\u201d he added.
\n![\"A](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Zara1.jpg\")
Robust economy boosts retail industry\u2019s outlook
\nOverall, these challenges have failed to dampen the outlook in the retail industry.
\nAfter all, the Philippines continues to become one of the bright spots in the Asia Pacific Region which foreign brands \u201care looking to tap into\u2026which can help them grow\u2026\u201d said said Euromonitor International, a London-based market research firm, in its Country Report titled, \u201cRetailing in the Philippines,\u201d published in January this year.
\nThe report added that \u201c[r]etailing in the Philippines is expected to significantly grow alongside the continued improvement in the economy. The increasing disposable income of Filipinos will encourage further purchases of products within grocery and non-grocery categories. The constant exposure to various media sources and overseas travel are also expected to further increase sophistication of Filipinos, which will hasten the growth of local and foreign retail brands already present.\u201d
\nSimilar sentiments have also been expressed by consulting firm Cushman & Wakefield.
\n\u201cThe strong economic fundamentals and demographics of the country should drive healthy appetite for retail goods moving forward,\u201d it said in a March 2015 report entitled, \u201cHow Global Brands are Shaping the Metro Retailer Landscape.\u201d \u201cRetail competition may tighten as existing brands compete against new retailers for the increasingly sophisticated consumer market and limited available shopping space. However, a healthy shopping mall pipeline and presence of latent demand in other areas of the country should be able to accommodate new retailer entrants to the market.\u201d
\n![\"A](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Zara2.jpg\")
Competition to bring out Filipino ingenuity
\nThe healthy increase in retail sales \u2014 which reached $134 billion \u2014 ranked the Philippines 16th out of the 30 countries listed in the 2016 Global Retail Development Index study titled \u201cGlobal Retail Expansion at a Crossroads.\u201d
\nPublished by global management consulting firm ATKearney in May, it predicted that the country\u2019s retail industry will soon account for one-fifth of the country\u2019s GDP by 2025.
\nThat wait may already be too long.
\nAfter all, Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) Chairman and Duty Free\u00a0Philippines Corporation Chief Operating Officer Lorenzo C. Formoso said that the sector is estimated to increase its share to the country\u2019s GDP by another five percent to 23-24% this year from 18% last year.
\nFrom 2008 to 2014,\u00a0 more than 190 new mid-range and luxury foreign brands entered the country, Cushman & Wakefield said. Of this figure, around 123 new brands covered in its report are western retailers. Asian retailers accounted for around 56 of the 190 new brands in the country.
\nMore retailers and more brands is expected to work to the local sector\u2019s advantage.
\nBesides promoting dynamic competition, it is also expected to bring out Filipino ingenuity and creativity as well as raise the bar and increase efficiency and performance, according to Mansmith & Fielders\u2019 Ms. Yu.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s only when your under extreme pressure that you’re able to produce innovation. As the saying goes, \u2018Necessity is the mother of invention.\u2019 I think for those who will survive, they will find that they have become much better business people or entrepreneurs,\u201d she said.
\n\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014
\nJosielyn Luna-Manuel is a journalism graduate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She believes in the power of kind words and happy thoughts.
\n", "content_text": "Zara’s logistically complex “just-in-time” stock turnaround strategy has managed to give ensconced rival retailers in the Philippines a run for their money. (AFP)\nby\u00a0Josielyn Luna-Manuel, Special Features Editor\u00a0\nIt\u2019s not something every fashionista keeps track of.\nBut it nevertheless is a worldwide trend that fashion retailers keep tabs on.\nIt\u2019s called fast fashion, referring broadly to upscale brands \u2014 \u201cthe latest fashion from the catwalk of Milan\u201d \u2014 that can be brought, displayed, and hopefully sold by retailers as quickly as possible, said Frances Yu, chief retail strategist at local training and consultancy firm Mansmith & Fielders and former Vice President and Business Unit Head of Rustan\u2019s Supermarket.\nFast fashion \u201cpresents a level of competition that the local retail industry has never faced in its history of retailing,\u201d Ms. Yu said in an interview. \u201c[Local retailers] are competing with these international chains that have economies of scale and very excellent supply chain and logistics that can really outperform the locals on all aspects \u2013 from assortment to quality to price to speed, so it would be very difficult for the locals to actually survive that onslaught,\u201d Ms. Yu said.\nAs expected, fast fashion has intensified competition among retailers.\nFast fashion brands such as Zara, UNIQLO, and H&M not only offer competitive prices and target the same customers, but also bring in the latest fashions to their network of stores in just two weeks, Ms. Yu said.\nMoreover, inventories of these brands can be replenished every seven days, she explained, adding that previously, luxury brands were brought home by Rustan\u2019s and its retail unit, Stores Specialist Inc. (SSI), the Philippines\u2019 largest specialty retailer.\n\u201cNewness drives frequency of visits. If your inventory doesn’t change in six months, why should I go there seeing the same display?\u201d Ms. Yu said.\nIn one way or another, fast fashion may explain why SSI\u2019s income dropped 54.5% in the first quarter of the year, according to Alexander Adrian O. Tiu, senior equity analyst at AB Capital Securities, Inc.\nBased on a 大象传媒 article published last May 14, \u201cthe Tantoco-led company netted P121.6 million in the three months ending March, down 54.5% from the P267 million earned in the same period last year.\u201d\nThe income decline was due to \u201can increase in competition in the local retail market, given the entry of UNIQLO and H&M,\u201d Mr.\u00a0Tiu said\u00a0in an interview in late June.\nThe cut in SSI\u2019s net profit was also attributable to either a drop in gross profit margin, its high inventory levels, and the change in lifestyle of its customers, Mr. Tiu added.\n\u201cFor the retailer, high inventory levels require the need to drop prices of products or go on sale just so they can let the inventory out,\u201d Mr. Tiu said.\nDespite its financial results, AB Capital still has a \u201chold recommendation for SSI. We think that the stock is below its fair value,\u201d Mr. Tiu said.\nSince foreign brands cannot be stopped dominating and entering the local market, he said that the route should be to focus on other segments that could potentially bring in more revenue.\n\u201cWhat you have to do is try to get another pie which is another segment that’s currently untapped. I think that\u2019s the key for SSI. They’ve been trying to bring in brands from other categories,\u201d he added.\nA model is photographed during an art fair in Florida wears Zara shoes in this file photo. Zara and other foreign retailers have invaded Philippine shores, enhancing competition in the industry. (AFP)\nRobust economy boosts retail industry\u2019s outlook\nOverall, these challenges have failed to dampen the outlook in the retail industry.\nAfter all, the Philippines continues to become one of the bright spots in the Asia Pacific Region which foreign brands \u201care looking to tap into\u2026which can help them grow\u2026\u201d said said Euromonitor International, a London-based market research firm, in its Country Report titled, \u201cRetailing in the Philippines,\u201d published in January this year.\nThe report added that \u201c[r]etailing in the Philippines is expected to significantly grow alongside the continued improvement in the economy. The increasing disposable income of Filipinos will encourage further purchases of products within grocery and non-grocery categories. The constant exposure to various media sources and overseas travel are also expected to further increase sophistication of Filipinos, which will hasten the growth of local and foreign retail brands already present.\u201d\nSimilar sentiments have also been expressed by consulting firm Cushman & Wakefield.\n\u201cThe strong economic fundamentals and demographics of the country should drive healthy appetite for retail goods moving forward,\u201d it said in a March 2015 report entitled, \u201cHow Global Brands are Shaping the Metro Retailer Landscape.\u201d \u201cRetail competition may tighten as existing brands compete against new retailers for the increasingly sophisticated consumer market and limited available shopping space. However, a healthy shopping mall pipeline and presence of latent demand in other areas of the country should be able to accommodate new retailer entrants to the market.\u201d\nA model is photographed wearing outwear and a skirt by Zara, one of the many foreign retailers that have challenged Filipino counterparts. (AFP)\nCompetition to bring out Filipino ingenuity\nThe healthy increase in retail sales \u2014 which reached $134 billion \u2014 ranked the Philippines 16th out of the 30 countries listed in the 2016 Global Retail Development Index study titled \u201cGlobal Retail Expansion at a Crossroads.\u201d\nPublished by global management consulting firm ATKearney in May, it predicted that the country\u2019s retail industry will soon account for one-fifth of the country\u2019s GDP by 2025.\nThat wait may already be too long.\nAfter all, Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) Chairman and Duty Free\u00a0Philippines Corporation Chief Operating Officer Lorenzo C. Formoso said that the sector is estimated to increase its share to the country\u2019s GDP by another five percent to 23-24% this year from 18% last year.\nFrom 2008 to 2014,\u00a0 more than 190 new mid-range and luxury foreign brands entered the country, Cushman & Wakefield said. Of this figure, around 123 new brands covered in its report are western retailers. Asian retailers accounted for around 56 of the 190 new brands in the country.\nMore retailers and more brands is expected to work to the local sector\u2019s advantage.\nBesides promoting dynamic competition, it is also expected to bring out Filipino ingenuity and creativity as well as raise the bar and increase efficiency and performance, according to Mansmith & Fielders\u2019 Ms. Yu.\n\u201cIt\u2019s only when your under extreme pressure that you’re able to produce innovation. As the saying goes, \u2018Necessity is the mother of invention.\u2019 I think for those who will survive, they will find that they have become much better business people or entrepreneurs,\u201d she said.\n\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\nJosielyn Luna-Manuel is a journalism graduate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She believes in the power of kind words and happy thoughts.", "date_published": "2016-07-28T14:57:45+08:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-28T14:57:45+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Integration", "retail", "retailers", "rustans", "Zara" ] }, { "id": "http://www.bworldonline.com/?p=147140", "url": "/integration/2016/07/26/147140/filipino-accountants-get-lift-from-regional-accord/", "title": "Filipino accountants get lift from regional accord", "content_html": "![\"000_APH1366425\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/000_APH1366425-1024x681.jpg\")
By Erika Denise L. Dizon, Special Features Writer
\nAs the entire region waits for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to get in full swing, affecting all sectors of the economy and millions of Filipinos, the accountancy profession is anticipating dramatic changes and implications for their industry.
\nIn 2014, a pact to promote the mobility of accountants within the region was signed by the 10 ASEAN member states. With the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Accountancy Services in the works, industry professionals are optimistic that accountants in the region will have better opportunities once the pact is fully implemented come 2017.
\n\u201cThe challenge is to upgrade and put the accountancy profession at a stage where they have to be globally competitive because we\u2019re aiming to exceed global standards,\u201d Professional Regulatory Commission-Board of Accountancy (PRC-BoA) Chairman Joel T. Torres said in an interview.
\nManaging Partner & Chief Executive Officer of Navarro Amper & Co. Greg S. Navarro said local accounting professionals are looking forward to the fulfilment of the MRA. \u201cIt is still a work in progress. There\u2019s still many barriers or non-trade barriers that prohibit the free flow of people and skilled labor.\u201d
\nMr. Navarro said the Philippines is a top talent source for countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos that need skilled workers to aid their homegrown accountancy firms. With the AEC, the region becomes almost borderless, making the exchange of talent easier.
\nAsked about the possibility of having more foreign workers in the Philippines when the AEC comes into effect, Mr. Navarro said this may be viable as local conglomerates see how foreign service providers could offer new perspectives and, in effect, help them put their own firms on a par with companies in the region.
\n\u201cOn the other hand, let\u2019s face it, we don\u2019t pay very well. How do we expect a Singaporean to come here if they\u2019re going to get less than a third of what they\u2019re earning? That\u2019s the constraint,\u201d he said, adding that smaller economies within the region also do not have enough talent to send abroad.
\nINDUSTRY GROWTH
\nStill, the country\u2019s accounting industry has continued to expand, which industry experts attribute to the sustained growth of the economy.
\n\u201cAs a professional services firm, we basically serve the business communities. If business is good, then it follows that our performance is good,\u201d Mr. Navarro said, adding that his company has experienced double-digit growth.
\nIn the past five years, Navarro Amper & Co., the local practice of the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited Global Network, has seen a 12-15% rise in revenue.
\nMeanwhile, Roberto G. Manabat, Chairman and CEO of R.G. Manabat & Co., Philippine member firm of KPMG International, said his company\u2019s performance in the last three to five years was \u201cexcellent\u201d as its annual compounded growth rate grew by double digits or more than 11%.
\n\u201cIf you benchmark our company\u2019s performance against the Philippine economy, I\u2019d say we are doing good,\u201d said Mr. Manabat.
\nOne facet that is still lacking, however, is the industry-wide implementation of a Quality Assurance Review (QAR) program, PRC-BoA\u2019s Mr. Torres said.
\nNow categorized under the commission\u2019s key priorities through its \u201cExpanding Horizons (EH)\u201d initiative and a major development in itself, the QAR aims to keep local auditors to their toes as it will regularly monitor the quality of their outputs.
\n\u201cMaybe in a matter of months, it\u2019s just probably another notch to exceed global standards. With this and other projects being put in place, I think we will now be in the position to hurdle that. There are more than 100 projects in that [EH] strategic plan. That can be the starting point,\u201d Mr. Torres added.
\nThe EH agenda is a six-point plan for the local accountancy profession. The strategies include instituting quality and governance measures; effectively regulating the profession; enhancing image and reputation of accountancy; enhancing stakeholders\u2019 involvement and cooperation; instituting structural changes; and providing communication and assistance mechanisms
\nBRAIN DRAIN
\nBut \u201cbrain drain\u201d or the emigration of skilled people from a particular country is a serious hurdle to the future of the accounting profession in the Philippines, the industry officials said.
\nMr. Torres said there is an ongoing shortage of accountants because demand for these skilled workers spans from national to worldwide. He said many of the Philippines\u2019 young accountants go to the United States, Europe, and the Middle East to look for higher-paying jobs.
\n\u201cWe hope that there can be a reverse drain that will arise,\u201d he said.
\nTo prevent homegrown talent from going out of the country to practice their profession elsewhere, Mr. Torres said the industry should come up with the proper business climate and offer competitive salaries.
\nNavarro Amper\u2019s Mr. Navarro said: \u201cYou really have to improve the economy and have inclusive growth. Even with the impressive growth, it does not really trickle down as we still have a lot of joblessness. The jobless rate does not really move too much so that\u2019s still a challenge.\u201d
\nThe nation\u2019s perennial problems of infrastructure, peace and order, sluggish internet connections, level-playing field, and traffic, among others, also hinder the industry\u2019s growth prospects, as well.
\n\u201cThe constraints will be the constraints in the Philippine economy,\u201d R.G. Manabat\u2019s Mr. Manabat said. \u201cWhen those have been addressed, everything will flow smoothly.\u201d
\nErika Denise L. Dizon (@erikadzn on Twitter) finished BA Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas.
\n", "content_text": "By Erika Denise L. Dizon, Special Features Writer\nAs the entire region waits for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to get in full swing, affecting all sectors of the economy and millions of Filipinos, the accountancy profession is anticipating dramatic changes and implications for their industry.\nIn 2014, a pact to promote the mobility of accountants within the region was signed by the 10 ASEAN member states. With the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Accountancy Services in the works, industry professionals are optimistic that accountants in the region will have better opportunities once the pact is fully implemented come 2017.\n\u201cThe challenge is to upgrade and put the accountancy profession at a stage where they have to be globally competitive because we\u2019re aiming to exceed global standards,\u201d Professional Regulatory Commission-Board of Accountancy (PRC-BoA) Chairman Joel T. Torres said in an interview.\nManaging Partner & Chief Executive Officer of Navarro Amper & Co. Greg S. Navarro said local accounting professionals are looking forward to the fulfilment of the MRA. \u201cIt is still a work in progress. There\u2019s still many barriers or non-trade barriers that prohibit the free flow of people and skilled labor.\u201d\nMr. Navarro said the Philippines is a top talent source for countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos that need skilled workers to aid their homegrown accountancy firms. With the AEC, the region becomes almost borderless, making the exchange of talent easier.\nAsked about the possibility of having more foreign workers in the Philippines when the AEC comes into effect, Mr. Navarro said this may be viable as local conglomerates see how foreign service providers could offer new perspectives and, in effect, help them put their own firms on a par with companies in the region.\n\u201cOn the other hand, let\u2019s face it, we don\u2019t pay very well. How do we expect a Singaporean to come here if they\u2019re going to get less than a third of what they\u2019re earning? That\u2019s the constraint,\u201d he said, adding that smaller economies within the region also do not have enough talent to send abroad.\nINDUSTRY GROWTH\nStill, the country\u2019s accounting industry has continued to expand, which industry experts attribute to the sustained growth of the economy.\n\u201cAs a professional services firm, we basically serve the business communities. If business is good, then it follows that our performance is good,\u201d Mr. Navarro said, adding that his company has experienced double-digit growth.\nIn the past five years, Navarro Amper & Co., the local practice of the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited Global Network, has seen a 12-15% rise in revenue.\nMeanwhile, Roberto G. Manabat, Chairman and CEO of R.G. Manabat & Co., Philippine member firm of KPMG International, said his company\u2019s performance in the last three to five years was \u201cexcellent\u201d as its annual compounded growth rate grew by double digits or more than 11%.\n\u201cIf you benchmark our company\u2019s performance against the Philippine economy, I\u2019d say we are doing good,\u201d said Mr. Manabat.\nOne facet that is still lacking, however, is the industry-wide implementation of a Quality Assurance Review (QAR) program, PRC-BoA\u2019s Mr. Torres said.\nNow categorized under the commission\u2019s key priorities through its \u201cExpanding Horizons (EH)\u201d initiative and a major development in itself, the QAR aims to keep local auditors to their toes as it will regularly monitor the quality of their outputs.\n\u201cMaybe in a matter of months, it\u2019s just probably another notch to exceed global standards. With this and other projects being put in place, I think we will now be in the position to hurdle that. There are more than 100 projects in that [EH] strategic plan. That can be the starting point,\u201d Mr. Torres added.\nThe EH agenda is a six-point plan for the local accountancy profession. The strategies include instituting quality and governance measures; effectively regulating the profession; enhancing image and reputation of accountancy; enhancing stakeholders\u2019 involvement and cooperation; instituting structural changes; and providing communication and assistance mechanisms\nBRAIN DRAIN\nBut \u201cbrain drain\u201d or the emigration of skilled people from a particular country is a serious hurdle to the future of the accounting profession in the Philippines, the industry officials said.\nMr. Torres said there is an ongoing shortage of accountants because demand for these skilled workers spans from national to worldwide. He said many of the Philippines\u2019 young accountants go to the United States, Europe, and the Middle East to look for higher-paying jobs.\n\u201cWe hope that there can be a reverse drain that will arise,\u201d he said.\nTo prevent homegrown talent from going out of the country to practice their profession elsewhere, Mr. Torres said the industry should come up with the proper business climate and offer competitive salaries.\nNavarro Amper\u2019s Mr. Navarro said: \u201cYou really have to improve the economy and have inclusive growth. Even with the impressive growth, it does not really trickle down as we still have a lot of joblessness. The jobless rate does not really move too much so that\u2019s still a challenge.\u201d\nThe nation\u2019s perennial problems of infrastructure, peace and order, sluggish internet connections, level-playing field, and traffic, among others, also hinder the industry\u2019s growth prospects, as well.\n\u201cThe constraints will be the constraints in the Philippine economy,\u201d R.G. Manabat\u2019s Mr. Manabat said. \u201cWhen those have been addressed, everything will flow smoothly.\u201d\nErika Denise L. Dizon (@erikadzn on Twitter) finished BA Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas.", "date_published": "2016-07-26T16:02:56+08:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-26T16:02:56+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Integration" ] }, { "id": "http://www.bworldonline.com/?p=147402", "url": "/integration/2016/07/26/147402/foreign-education-brands-move-to-expand-locally/", "title": "Foreign education brands move to expand locally", "content_html": "![\"000_Hkg1649598\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/000_Hkg1649598-1024x659.jpg\")
By Keith Richard D. Mariano, Reporter
\nOn several occasions, President Rodrigo R. Duterte has suggested that Algebra and Calculus be taken out of schools\u2019 required curricula.
\nThe president\u2019s suggestion \u2014 proposed during one of his many moments of levity \u2014 was based on his experience of spending seven years, instead of the usual four, in high school where he hardly passed any of these two subjects.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll take out calculus. You all went through high school \u2014 what did you learn from calculus, trigonometry? Algebra should be replaced by Business Math,\u201d said Mr. Duterte, who managed to graduate from law school, pass the bar exam, and even become a prosecutor.
\nAlthough he appears to be cracking a joke, his proposal to do away with algebra and calculus may make sense in a country of jobless and underemployed people.
\nIn a survey conducted in January, the Philippine Statistics Authority found 2.47 million unemployed Filipinos another 7.88 million underemployed. They accounted for more than a fourth of the country\u2019s 42.5 million labor force.
\n\u201cWe are so obsessed that a person must have a four-year degree before he\u2019s worth anything,\u201d Philippine Franchising Association Chairperson Emeritus Samson C. Lim said in a July 7 interview.
\nMr. Lim, dubbed as the father of Philippine franchising, runs the Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute in the Philippines, a vocational school that offers one-year diploma and one-month certificate courses.
\n\u201cWe can train the person and in one month, we can get him an on-the-job training in a five-star hotel and my student is practically preferred over students who graduated with a four-year degree from a university,\u201d Mr. Lim said.
\nThe vocational school boasts of meeting international standards, a selling point that came in handy with the foreign education brand Mr. Lim brought to the Philippines through franchising in 2011.
\nThe Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute is a franchise of the Canadian Tourism College, a private college established in Vancouver in 1980 to offer hospitality, tourism, airline and adventure programs.
\nCurrently, the vocational school has 150 students enrolled in diploma courses and 300 in certificate offerings.
\nMr. Lim ventured into the education business with a question that may have \u2014 more or less \u2014 prompted Mr. Duterte to push for an education free of algebra and calculus.
\n\u201cFor a developing country, what are the needs, what are the types of people that we need, what are the skills that we need to teach them. I think we have to focus on that,\u201d Mr. Lim said.
\n\u201cSo, when I send you my students, on day one he is working already. He can work, you can put him in a front office, you can put him in a restaurant, you can put him in housekeeping, in the sales, telephone and what have you.\u201d
\nWin-win situation for employers, workers
\nThe need to acquire skills rather than a college diploma is creating interest from foreign education brands to expand into the Philippines and, at the same time, providing opportunities for Filipinos looking to have a business.
\nThe Philippine has around 1,500 local and international franchise concepts, about half of which are in the food and beverage sector, U-Franchise Sales & Management President and Francorp Philippines Senior Vice-President Sam Christopher Lim said in a June 23 interview.
\n\u201cFood is food \u2014 people will always be interested in food \u2014 but education is the next wave,\u201d the younger Lim noted.
\nEducation franchise brands in Singapore, in particular, are looking to expand into the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore) Chairman Donna Lee said in a June 23 interview.
\nMs. Lee, who founded the KinderGolf franchise, noted the franchise concepts are mostly in the area of enrichment aside from skills development.
\n\u201cWhen I came back from Singapore, I found this seriously addictive math. It\u2019s teaching math in a new way \u2014 they actually give you a certain item you can relate that equation to, so that instead of just using your mind, you are using your eyes and other senses,\u201d Mr. Lim said. \u201cThe problem there now is because they\u2019re teaching these new math systems now in [Philippine schools], the parents or the grandparents like us can no longer tutor them because we don\u2019t know how that works.\u201d
\nBusinesses offering enrichment programs will supposedly become increasingly important. And a foreign brand will make it a profitable venture.
\n\u201cMost of my students are children or niece or nephews of OFWs [overseas Filipino workers]. They see the value of vocational schools, the value of an international diploma,\u201d Mr. Lim said.
\nKeith RICHARD D. Mariano (@kdmariano on Twitter) covers the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission for 大象传媒. On weekends, he tries to get some sleep and/or see controversial films.
\n", "content_text": "By Keith Richard D. Mariano, Reporter\nOn several occasions, President Rodrigo R. Duterte has suggested that Algebra and Calculus be taken out of schools\u2019 required curricula.\nThe president\u2019s suggestion \u2014 proposed during one of his many moments of levity \u2014 was based on his experience of spending seven years, instead of the usual four, in high school where he hardly passed any of these two subjects.\n\u201cI\u2019ll take out calculus. You all went through high school \u2014 what did you learn from calculus, trigonometry? Algebra should be replaced by Business Math,\u201d said Mr. Duterte, who managed to graduate from law school, pass the bar exam, and even become a prosecutor.\nAlthough he appears to be cracking a joke, his proposal to do away with algebra and calculus may make sense in a country of jobless and underemployed people.\nIn a survey conducted in January, the Philippine Statistics Authority found 2.47 million unemployed Filipinos another 7.88 million underemployed. They accounted for more than a fourth of the country\u2019s 42.5 million labor force.\n\u201cWe are so obsessed that a person must have a four-year degree before he\u2019s worth anything,\u201d Philippine Franchising Association Chairperson Emeritus Samson C. Lim said in a July 7 interview.\nMr. Lim, dubbed as the father of Philippine franchising, runs the Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute in the Philippines, a vocational school that offers one-year diploma and one-month certificate courses.\n\u201cWe can train the person and in one month, we can get him an on-the-job training in a five-star hotel and my student is practically preferred over students who graduated with a four-year degree from a university,\u201d Mr. Lim said.\nThe vocational school boasts of meeting international standards, a selling point that came in handy with the foreign education brand Mr. Lim brought to the Philippines through franchising in 2011.\nThe Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute is a franchise of the Canadian Tourism College, a private college established in Vancouver in 1980 to offer hospitality, tourism, airline and adventure programs.\nCurrently, the vocational school has 150 students enrolled in diploma courses and 300 in certificate offerings.\nMr. Lim ventured into the education business with a question that may have \u2014 more or less \u2014 prompted Mr. Duterte to push for an education free of algebra and calculus.\n\u201cFor a developing country, what are the needs, what are the types of people that we need, what are the skills that we need to teach them. I think we have to focus on that,\u201d Mr. Lim said.\n\u201cSo, when I send you my students, on day one he is working already. He can work, you can put him in a front office, you can put him in a restaurant, you can put him in housekeeping, in the sales, telephone and what have you.\u201d\nWin-win situation for employers, workers\nThe need to acquire skills rather than a college diploma is creating interest from foreign education brands to expand into the Philippines and, at the same time, providing opportunities for Filipinos looking to have a business.\nThe Philippine has around 1,500 local and international franchise concepts, about half of which are in the food and beverage sector, U-Franchise Sales & Management President and Francorp Philippines Senior Vice-President Sam Christopher Lim said in a June 23 interview.\n\u201cFood is food \u2014 people will always be interested in food \u2014 but education is the next wave,\u201d the younger Lim noted.\nEducation franchise brands in Singapore, in particular, are looking to expand into the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore) Chairman Donna Lee said in a June 23 interview.\nMs. Lee, who founded the KinderGolf franchise, noted the franchise concepts are mostly in the area of enrichment aside from skills development.\n\u201cWhen I came back from Singapore, I found this seriously addictive math. It\u2019s teaching math in a new way \u2014 they actually give you a certain item you can relate that equation to, so that instead of just using your mind, you are using your eyes and other senses,\u201d Mr. Lim said. \u201cThe problem there now is because they\u2019re teaching these new math systems now in [Philippine schools], the parents or the grandparents like us can no longer tutor them because we don\u2019t know how that works.\u201d\nBusinesses offering enrichment programs will supposedly become increasingly important. And a foreign brand will make it a profitable venture.\n\u201cMost of my students are children or niece or nephews of OFWs [overseas Filipino workers]. They see the value of vocational schools, the value of an international diploma,\u201d Mr. Lim said.\nKeith RICHARD D. Mariano (@kdmariano on Twitter) covers the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission for 大象传媒. On weekends, he tries to get some sleep and/or see controversial films.", "date_published": "2016-07-26T13:22:18+08:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-26T13:22:18+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Integration" ] }, { "id": "http://www.bworldonline.com/?p=147440", "url": "/integration/2016/07/25/147440/secret-pubs-get-global-recognition/", "title": "Secret pubs get global recognition", "content_html": "By Joseph L. Garcia, Reporter
\n![\"restaurant-alcohol-bar-drinks\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/restaurant-alcohol-bar-drinks-300x200.jpg\")
Only two bars in the country made it to Asia\u2019s 50 Best Bars Awards by Drinks International, ABV (ranking at 14) and The Curator (ranking at 16) , both located in Makati. Oddly enough, both of the publicity-shy watering holes are hidden behind other establishments, making them to a certain extent reincarnations of the speakeasy, the secret bars that plagued Prohibition-era authorities in the US while blessing tipplers in the 1920s.
While speakesies began in the 1920s and the early part of the 1930s as a necessity (at least, from the perspective of a drinker), these days, speakeasies are now just for fun, creating an atmosphere of mystery and concealed glamor to accompany excellent drinks. If you\u2019re breaking the rules, might as well look good doing it, right?
\nOf course, modern speakeasies bank upon the novelty and the surprise of having a bar concealed by a more prosaic establishment, such as say, a hotdog joint (as in the case of ABV). So how do you earn money in keeping a secret, as well as sustaining the growth and the glamor once the secret\u2019s out?
\n![\"1607-S4-Anniv---Alcohol-tobacco-consumption\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1607-S4-Anniv-Alcohol-tobacco-consumption-1024x342.jpg\")
大象传媒 interviewed Pylon Partners, Inc. CEO and Founder F. Patrick Cuartero during the launch of one of its e-commerce platforms, bevtools.com. Pylon Partners is also the parent company behind ABV, so in terms of expansion and diversification, ABV, through its parent Pylon Partners, has that part down pat. Mr. Cuartero describes Pylon as a venture builder, telling 大象传媒 about 13 other food and beverage establishments in the planning stage, as well as five e-commerce companies, and a digital marketing creatives company. Soon, Pylon plans to open a bar in Boracay, as well as a bar in Kuala Lumpur. According to him, the Kuala Lumpur bar will be in a similar format as ABV, \u201cbut more grand in scale.\u201d
![](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/13151833_1135682779806139_7110375521101710547_n-300x300.jpg\")
ABV only opened last year, and as speakeasies were wont to do, was kept a secret for a while, holding private parties in its premises before going public. \u201cEven… the press… we\u2019d push [them] back for the first three months,\u201d he said.
\u201cWhile this is secret, if you give a person a really great experience, nobody\u2019s ever going to want to keep it secret… that\u2019s kind of how we grew. People just talked about it,\u201d he said. \u201cLiterally, in my phone, I sent 12 text messages,\u201d he said, reminiscing about the first few parties that started it all.
\nMeanwhile, The Curator doesn\u2019t quite identify as a speakeasy \u2014 for one thing, it does serve coffee while the sun is up. Evenings are a different story altogether, with drinks crafted after cars, and other whimsies. For one thing, the place that conceals The Curator happens to be a wine bar, so boozing at this place was never exactly out-of-bounds. \u201cI think it\u2019s because people need to brand [us] as one, to [understand it],\u201d said Jericson Co, Curator cofounder.
\n\u201cThe hidden part is not because we wanted to be cool… making money is cool; having a sign is cool \u2014 it\u2019s just because this is the rent that we could afford,\u201d said Mr. Co.
\nWhen 大象传媒 arrived for its interview late in June, renovations were under way to convert the wine bar into the coffee shop-side of The Curator \u2014 like making an honest person out of it, at last.
\n![](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/13585048_1176485295725887_1202099428088110503_o-300x225.jpg\")
There are some commonalities between the two bars: aside from both are hidden, they have very little in line in terms of marketing. Said Mr. Cuartero, \u201cWe plan by… intentionally not marketing,\u201d he said of his marketing plans.
\u201cThe way we do market though, this\u2019ll be very honest, we market to the international crowd outside of the Philippines… honestly speaking, it [has] worked… people who… come in from Singapore, first place to visit. We have regulars from San Francisco, first place to visit. Literally, right off the plane, they bring their bags here \u2014 it\u2019s pretty awesome.\u201d
\nMr. Co, meanwhile, guffaws at his marketing budget, ranking in at about P5,000, instead relying on word-of-mouth. As with Mr. Cuartero\u2019s case, Mr. Co also has international clients, recalling trips to New Orleans and Singapore to promote the bar. Mr. Co also has a system of thank-you cards that customers can give to a friend to receive a free drink, and then recalling that one of the cards came back to them \u2014 from London.
\n![\"11046729_672171909571953_2217980657562889276_n\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/11046729_672171909571953_2217980657562889276_n-300x300.jpg\")
As well, neither of the two bars accepted sponsorships from external companies (so yes, no cigarette-company ashtrays here, and neither are posters of branded drinks). Said Mr. Cuartero, \u201cNo \u2014 they tried, in the beginning; we took everything away… that\u2019s the easy way out… my whole thing is, if we\u2019re going to build a lasting brand, I want to make sure that ABV is at the forefront, not other people\u2019s brands.\u201d
\n
Meanwhile, Mr. Co said, \u201cIt loses some of the independence… I want to sell alcohol based on its merit, rather than its branding. That\u2019s our perspective.\u201d
\nWhen the boys say alcohol, they mean it. The liquor behind the bar is like an adult version of a candy store. No supermarket brands here: in ABV, for example, Mr. Cuartero lists absinthes sourced from the US, France, Germany, and Switzerland, while The Curator boasts of rare whiskeys and odd additives (think liqueur extracted from violets).
\n![\"RUPERT'S-COLADA-(Taste-the-Escape)\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RUPERTS-COLADA-Taste-the-Escape-300x300.jpg\")
Mr. Cuartero says that some of his bottles are sourced from trips abroad, as well as having some guests bring them a bottle, \u201cBecause they know that we\u2019re really into it, which is really endearing, and I love that.\u201d Meanwhile, Mr. Co said, \u201cThere [are] several companies that bring it in now; it\u2019s getting more and more available.\u201d Both serve cocktails priced at a premium: while Mr. Cuartero\u2019s drinks jump between the P300-P600 levels, Mr. Co keeps his at a steady P450, figuring out the price of each cocktail via food-costing measures.
The business might sound shaky to some: inconsistent sourcing, little or zero marketing plan and budget, no sponsorships, and a deliberate concealment, but then, they made it. According to Mr. Cuartero, after opening last year, they have, \u201cMaybe, a few more months to go,\u201d before breaking even on ABV\u2019s capital, and then pointing out that he average time it takes for food and beverage establishments takes about 30 months. Mr. Co says that his bar has broken even, being founded in 2013. It added of course, to their appeal, the novelty of discovering something new, but this is no longer the case for neither, seeing as the jig is up and everybody (at least, everybody in the know) knows about them. \u201cThe hidden part was great for marketing when it started… [but] it\u2019s not what\u2019s going to keep customers coming back,\u201d said Mr. Co.
\nSo what does keep these two afloat? \u201cFor us, the focus is really making sure that [that] experience\u2019s is top-notch, or memorable, or top of mind,\u201d said Mr. Cuartero.
\nSaid Mr. Co,\u201dOur idea is if you do something well, if you do it better than anyone else… if you do things that are interesting that [have] a voice, that voice will find its way out.\u201d
\nJoseph L. Garcia (@josephjlgarcia on Twitter) covers the food and fashion beats for 大象传媒. He usually has a drink in his hand. 大象传媒 Researcher Jochebed B. Gonzales (@jochebedgon on Twitter) helped provide data to the infographic.
\n", "content_text": "By Joseph L. Garcia, Reporter\nOnly two bars in the country made it to Asia\u2019s 50 Best Bars Awards by Drinks International, ABV (ranking at 14) and The Curator (ranking at 16) , both located in Makati. Oddly enough, both of the publicity-shy watering holes are hidden behind other establishments, making them to a certain extent reincarnations of the speakeasy, the secret bars that plagued Prohibition-era authorities in the US while blessing tipplers in the 1920s.\nWhile speakesies began in the 1920s and the early part of the 1930s as a necessity (at least, from the perspective of a drinker), these days, speakeasies are now just for fun, creating an atmosphere of mystery and concealed glamor to accompany excellent drinks. If you\u2019re breaking the rules, might as well look good doing it, right?\nOf course, modern speakeasies bank upon the novelty and the surprise of having a bar concealed by a more prosaic establishment, such as say, a hotdog joint (as in the case of ABV). So how do you earn money in keeping a secret, as well as sustaining the growth and the glamor once the secret\u2019s out?\n大象传媒 interviewed Pylon Partners, Inc. CEO and Founder F. Patrick Cuartero during the launch of one of its e-commerce platforms, bevtools.com. Pylon Partners is also the parent company behind ABV, so in terms of expansion and diversification, ABV, through its parent Pylon Partners, has that part down pat. Mr. Cuartero describes Pylon as a venture builder, telling 大象传媒 about 13 other food and beverage establishments in the planning stage, as well as five e-commerce companies, and a digital marketing creatives company. Soon, Pylon plans to open a bar in Boracay, as well as a bar in Kuala Lumpur. According to him, the Kuala Lumpur bar will be in a similar format as ABV, \u201cbut more grand in scale.\u201d\nABV only opened last year, and as speakeasies were wont to do, was kept a secret for a while, holding private parties in its premises before going public. \u201cEven… the press… we\u2019d push [them] back for the first three months,\u201d he said.\n\u201cWhile this is secret, if you give a person a really great experience, nobody\u2019s ever going to want to keep it secret… that\u2019s kind of how we grew. People just talked about it,\u201d he said. \u201cLiterally, in my phone, I sent 12 text messages,\u201d he said, reminiscing about the first few parties that started it all.\nMeanwhile, The Curator doesn\u2019t quite identify as a speakeasy \u2014 for one thing, it does serve coffee while the sun is up. Evenings are a different story altogether, with drinks crafted after cars, and other whimsies. For one thing, the place that conceals The Curator happens to be a wine bar, so boozing at this place was never exactly out-of-bounds. \u201cI think it\u2019s because people need to brand [us] as one, to [understand it],\u201d said Jericson Co, Curator cofounder.\n\u201cThe hidden part is not because we wanted to be cool… making money is cool; having a sign is cool \u2014 it\u2019s just because this is the rent that we could afford,\u201d said Mr. Co.\nWhen 大象传媒 arrived for its interview late in June, renovations were under way to convert the wine bar into the coffee shop-side of The Curator \u2014 like making an honest person out of it, at last.\nThere are some commonalities between the two bars: aside from both are hidden, they have very little in line in terms of marketing. Said Mr. Cuartero, \u201cWe plan by… intentionally not marketing,\u201d he said of his marketing plans.\n\u201cThe way we do market though, this\u2019ll be very honest, we market to the international crowd outside of the Philippines… honestly speaking, it [has] worked… people who… come in from Singapore, first place to visit. We have regulars from San Francisco, first place to visit. Literally, right off the plane, they bring their bags here \u2014 it\u2019s pretty awesome.\u201d\nMr. Co, meanwhile, guffaws at his marketing budget, ranking in at about P5,000, instead relying on word-of-mouth. As with Mr. Cuartero\u2019s case, Mr. Co also has international clients, recalling trips to New Orleans and Singapore to promote the bar. Mr. Co also has a system of thank-you cards that customers can give to a friend to receive a free drink, and then recalling that one of the cards came back to them \u2014 from London.\nAs well, neither of the two bars accepted sponsorships from external companies (so yes, no cigarette-company ashtrays here, and neither are posters of branded drinks). Said Mr. Cuartero, \u201cNo \u2014 they tried, in the beginning; we took everything away… that\u2019s the easy way out… my whole thing is, if we\u2019re going to build a lasting brand, I want to make sure that ABV is at the forefront, not other people\u2019s brands.\u201d\n \nMeanwhile, Mr. Co said, \u201cIt loses some of the independence… I want to sell alcohol based on its merit, rather than its branding. That\u2019s our perspective.\u201d\nWhen the boys say alcohol, they mean it. The liquor behind the bar is like an adult version of a candy store. No supermarket brands here: in ABV, for example, Mr. Cuartero lists absinthes sourced from the US, France, Germany, and Switzerland, while The Curator boasts of rare whiskeys and odd additives (think liqueur extracted from violets).\nMr. Cuartero says that some of his bottles are sourced from trips abroad, as well as having some guests bring them a bottle, \u201cBecause they know that we\u2019re really into it, which is really endearing, and I love that.\u201d Meanwhile, Mr. Co said, \u201cThere [are] several companies that bring it in now; it\u2019s getting more and more available.\u201d Both serve cocktails priced at a premium: while Mr. Cuartero\u2019s drinks jump between the P300-P600 levels, Mr. Co keeps his at a steady P450, figuring out the price of each cocktail via food-costing measures.\nThe business might sound shaky to some: inconsistent sourcing, little or zero marketing plan and budget, no sponsorships, and a deliberate concealment, but then, they made it. According to Mr. Cuartero, after opening last year, they have, \u201cMaybe, a few more months to go,\u201d before breaking even on ABV\u2019s capital, and then pointing out that he average time it takes for food and beverage establishments takes about 30 months. Mr. Co says that his bar has broken even, being founded in 2013. It added of course, to their appeal, the novelty of discovering something new, but this is no longer the case for neither, seeing as the jig is up and everybody (at least, everybody in the know) knows about them. \u201cThe hidden part was great for marketing when it started… [but] it\u2019s not what\u2019s going to keep customers coming back,\u201d said Mr. Co.\nSo what does keep these two afloat? \u201cFor us, the focus is really making sure that [that] experience\u2019s is top-notch, or memorable, or top of mind,\u201d said Mr. Cuartero.\nSaid Mr. Co,\u201dOur idea is if you do something well, if you do it better than anyone else… if you do things that are interesting that [have] a voice, that voice will find its way out.\u201d\nJoseph L. Garcia (@josephjlgarcia on Twitter) covers the food and fashion beats for 大象传媒. He usually has a drink in his hand. 大象传媒 Researcher Jochebed B. Gonzales (@jochebedgon on Twitter) helped provide data to the infographic.", "date_published": "2016-07-25T13:40:10+08:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-25T13:40:10+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Integration" ] }, { "id": "http://www.bworldonline.com/?p=147408", "url": "/integration/2016/07/25/147408/how-the-philippines-can-compete-in-the-asean-community/", "title": "How the Philippines can compete in the ASEAN community", "content_html": "By Francis Anthony T. Valentin, Special Features Writer
\nThe long anticipated ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) finally came into force on Dec. 31, 2015. Its establishment — which has the intention of turning ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) into a single market and production base in which, goods, services, investments, skilled labor, and movement of capital flow freely — unlocks tremendous opportunities, as well as challenges, for the 10 member countries of the trade bloc, which includes the Philippines.
\n![\"Integration-Tweet-1\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Integration-Tweet-1-1024x662.jpg\")
At the recently concluded 大象传媒 Economic Forum, held on July 12, several issues surrounding the AEC were discussed by two of the most prominent personalities in the Philippine private sector \u2014 Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. president and chief executive officer of PHINMA Corp. and Riza G. Mantaring, president and chief executive officer of Sun Life Financial Philippines. Their exchange of views on integration was moderated by Regina Lay, anchor and executive producer at Bloomberg TV Philippines.
Jobs mismatch
\nThe AEC, as Ms. Mantaring remarked, is a huge market.
\nIt is worth approximately $2.6 trillion and is populated by some 622 million people.
\nBut the Philippines needs to be competitive for it to take full advantage of the enormous possibilities of the AEC. Fortunately, Mr. del Rosario noted that there are many factors that have set the stage for the country \u201cto be potentially a much more competitive site for investments.\u201d Among these are the rapid economic growth, increasing population and rising labor costs in neighboring countries such as China. He also disclosed that Japanese investors are taking a closer look at the country\u2019s manufacturing sector \u2014 an important development since, he said, investments in that sector lead to job creation.
\nThere is, however, a skills mismatch that both Ms. Manataring and Mr. del Rosario raised. There doesn\u2019t seem to be a shortage of Filipinos looking for jobs and yet the number of jobs that goes unfilled is large.
\n\u201cIt is really a mismatch that we in the business community have to be vocal about. We have to speak up. We have to participate in the effort of addressing that gap,\u201d Mr. del Rosario said. The specific steps the community could take, he said, include defining the competencies and skills they want from graduates and getting involved in the formulation of curricula and courses in schools. \u201cThe important point is there has to be better communication between industry and academe so that the output of academe matches the expectations and needs of industry,\u201d he said.
\nSecuring permits takes forever
\nIn addition to the mismatch, the country has a lot of work to do to develop an environment in which businesses can thrive. \u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to do business here,\u201d Ms. Mantaring said. \u201cJust to get a permit, it takes forever.\u201d
\n![\"Integration-Tweet-3\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Integration-Tweet-3-1024x700.jpg\")
In the Doing Business 2016 report of World Bank, the Philippines ranked 103rd, a decline from its 95th place finish in 2015. It was behind Singapore (1st), Malaysia (18th), Thailand (49th) and even Vietnam (90th), but it was ahead of Indonesia (109th).
Ms. Mantaring also called attention to high corporate taxes imposed on private firms, which are among the highest in Southeast Asia.
\n\u201cIf you\u2019re a company\u2026 if you want to build strong manufacturing capabilities, why would you locate in the Philippines when you can operate much more cheaply and efficiently elsewhere?\u201d
\nFor his part, Mr. del Rosario said: \u201cI think it\u2019s important to point out that we are making some progress.\u201d
\nHe said, for instance, that the country is used to being seen as a \u201cvery corrupt nation,\u201d but it has gained a lot of ground in altering such perception. He also noted that the National Competitive Council of the Philippines has been addressing the difficulties in doing business in the country and has made progress in eliminating as much red tape as possible, for instance.
\nThe business process outsourcing industry (BPO) in the Philippines is an exemplar of what a good partnership between the private sector and the government can engender. Ms. Mantaring said that what has made the industry succeed is a combination of private investments and the enabling environment courtesy of the government. \u201cIf we were able to do it for BPO, there\u2019s no reason why we can\u2019t do it for other industries,\u201d she said.
\n\n
Francis Anthony\u00a0T. Valentin (@iamfrancistv) joined 大象传媒 as a special features writer in 2014.
\n", "content_text": "By Francis Anthony T. Valentin, Special Features Writer\nThe long anticipated ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) finally came into force on Dec. 31, 2015. Its establishment — which has the intention of turning ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) into a single market and production base in which, goods, services, investments, skilled labor, and movement of capital flow freely — unlocks tremendous opportunities, as well as challenges, for the 10 member countries of the trade bloc, which includes the Philippines.\nAt the recently concluded 大象传媒 Economic Forum, held on July 12, several issues surrounding the AEC were discussed by two of the most prominent personalities in the Philippine private sector \u2014 Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. president and chief executive officer of PHINMA Corp. and Riza G. Mantaring, president and chief executive officer of Sun Life Financial Philippines. Their exchange of views on integration was moderated by Regina Lay, anchor and executive producer at Bloomberg TV Philippines.\nJobs mismatch\nThe AEC, as Ms. Mantaring remarked, is a huge market.\nIt is worth approximately $2.6 trillion and is populated by some 622 million people.\nBut the Philippines needs to be competitive for it to take full advantage of the enormous possibilities of the AEC. Fortunately, Mr. del Rosario noted that there are many factors that have set the stage for the country \u201cto be potentially a much more competitive site for investments.\u201d Among these are the rapid economic growth, increasing population and rising labor costs in neighboring countries such as China. He also disclosed that Japanese investors are taking a closer look at the country\u2019s manufacturing sector \u2014 an important development since, he said, investments in that sector lead to job creation.\nThere is, however, a skills mismatch that both Ms. Manataring and Mr. del Rosario raised. There doesn\u2019t seem to be a shortage of Filipinos looking for jobs and yet the number of jobs that goes unfilled is large.\n\u201cIt is really a mismatch that we in the business community have to be vocal about. We have to speak up. We have to participate in the effort of addressing that gap,\u201d Mr. del Rosario said. The specific steps the community could take, he said, include defining the competencies and skills they want from graduates and getting involved in the formulation of curricula and courses in schools. \u201cThe important point is there has to be better communication between industry and academe so that the output of academe matches the expectations and needs of industry,\u201d he said.\nSecuring permits takes forever\nIn addition to the mismatch, the country has a lot of work to do to develop an environment in which businesses can thrive. \u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to do business here,\u201d Ms. Mantaring said. \u201cJust to get a permit, it takes forever.\u201d\nIn the Doing Business 2016 report of World Bank, the Philippines ranked 103rd, a decline from its 95th place finish in 2015. It was behind Singapore (1st), Malaysia (18th), Thailand (49th) and even Vietnam (90th), but it was ahead of Indonesia (109th).\nMs. Mantaring also called attention to high corporate taxes imposed on private firms, which are among the highest in Southeast Asia.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re a company\u2026 if you want to build strong manufacturing capabilities, why would you locate in the Philippines when you can operate much more cheaply and efficiently elsewhere?\u201d\nFor his part, Mr. del Rosario said: \u201cI think it\u2019s important to point out that we are making some progress.\u201d\nHe said, for instance, that the country is used to being seen as a \u201cvery corrupt nation,\u201d but it has gained a lot of ground in altering such perception. He also noted that the National Competitive Council of the Philippines has been addressing the difficulties in doing business in the country and has made progress in eliminating as much red tape as possible, for instance.\nThe business process outsourcing industry (BPO) in the Philippines is an exemplar of what a good partnership between the private sector and the government can engender. Ms. Mantaring said that what has made the industry succeed is a combination of private investments and the enabling environment courtesy of the government. \u201cIf we were able to do it for BPO, there\u2019s no reason why we can\u2019t do it for other industries,\u201d she said.\n \nFrancis Anthony\u00a0T. Valentin (@iamfrancistv) joined 大象传媒 as a special features writer in 2014.", "date_published": "2016-07-25T13:24:25+08:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-25T13:24:25+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "AEC", "ASEAN", "ASEAN Economic Community", "competitiveness", "economy", "regional integration", "trade", "Integration" ] }, { "id": "http://www.bworldonline.com/?p=147405", "url": "/integration/2016/07/25/147405/companies-capitalize-on-volleyball-as-sport-goes-mainstream/", "title": "Companies capitalize on volleyball as sport goes mainstream", "content_html": "\n
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Reporter
\nVolleyball is no longer an emerging sport.![\"Beach-1\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Beach-1-1024x683.jpg\")
For the past decade, it has become one of the Philippines\u2019 mainstream sports, attracting not only players and fans but businesses as well.
\nThanks to its popularity, companies have capitalized on volleyball\u2019s viability as a platform for sponsorships and promoting market awareness.
\n\u201cVolleyball has moved beyond being an emerging sport and is now very popular and things are looking up as everybody is on board. From the schools, suppliers, sponsors and other stakeholders, everybody wants to be part of it,\u201d said Jose A. Romasanta, president of the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI), the national sports association in charge of volleyball.
\nLocal volleyball gets global recognition
\nWith local volleyball in the \u201cpink of health,\u201d the LVPI official said that international volleyball governing bodies have recognized the efforts of the local association of the sport.
\n![\"PSL-1\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PSL-1-1024x683.jpg\")
\u201cOne key result of volleyball\u2019s resurgence in the country is the recognition that we are getting from the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB or the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de Volleyball). Prior to this we did not have such kind of support,\u201d said Mr. Romasanta, also the first vice-president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
\u201cThe organizations have recognized the organizational structure that the country has with volleyball and the tremendous activity presently happening here and they want us on board as they see us an asset. Which is why we have been granted hosting duties for events and we have been given good feedback,\u201d he added.
\nLater this year, the Philippines will host the Asian Women\u2019s Club Volleyball Championship in September and FIVB Volleyball Women\u2019s Club World Championship in October, which are opportunities, Mr. Romasanta said, to further boost the sport\u2019s popularity as well as showcase the phenomenal drawing power it has built in the last several years.
\nV-League started by basketball stakeholders
\nTalking about the growth of local volleyball will not be complete without the mention of the Shakey\u2019s V-League, whose establishment was instrumental in further boosting the sport\u2019s awareness.
\nEstablished in 2004 by a group of people who, interestingly enough, were more associated with basketball, the V-League has done more than its fair share in promoting the sport.
\n\u201cWe are now on our 13th season. The V-League was actually formed by basketball people. The late Jun Bernardino, Moying Martilino, Ricky Palou, Chito Loyzaga, Sonny Barrios and Norman Black, they were the founding members,\u201d said Shakey\u2019s V-League long-time Commissioner Tony Boy Liao, recounting how the league began.
\n\u201cThey started a basketball league, the inter-high school league, but it did not do well because we already have so many basketball leagues. Ricky Palou then suggested to the group why not go into volleyball so they asked me to join and be a commissioner,\u201d he added.
\nThe V-League began as a women\u2019s collegiate league with teams coming from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation (CESAFI).
\nCorporations welcome
\nIn 2011, it began to welcome corporate and non-collegiate teams which furthered its fan base while also giving participating teams exposure to whatever products they want to promote.
\nAmong the corporations that played or still playing in the league include Kia, PLDT, Maynilad, Smart Communications, Sandugo, and Fourbees.
\nClub teams include the cities of Davao, Laoag and Baguio, the provinces of Iriga and Cagayan Valley, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police.
\nAmong those who recently competed in the Shakey\u2019s V-League Open Conference were University of the Philippines, National University, Baguio, Iriga, Laoag, Philippine Air Force, Bali Pure, and Pocari Sweat.
\nLeague officials said the Shakey\u2019s brand, too, has become synonymous to volleyball and its success.
\nMr. Liao did not provide figures on how the league has grown in 13 years but he did mention that it can be gauged at least in two ways \u2014 demand for tournaments that they put up, number of teams which want to join, and the extensive television coverage they have been getting.![\"Beach-3\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Beach-3.jpg\")
\u201cWhen we started, we only had one conference then two conferences and now three, so that\u2019s one way it has grown. Before we were being covered by two channels now we are with ABS-CBN and being covered live and on prime time, and that is success for us,\u201d the V-League commissioner said.
\nMr. Liao also added that the league has also become a venue where collegiate players, both female and male, can go after and continue playing while earning a decent living.
\nFollowing in the footsteps of the Shakey\u2019s V-League in helping grow the sport of volleyball is the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) which was formed in 2013.
\nA semi-professional corporate club volleyball league, its team members include Cignal TV, Inc., F2 Global Logistics, Inc., United Asia Automotive Group (Foton), Petron Corp. and ARC Refreshments Corp. (RC Cola), among others.
\nMuch like the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the PSL provides its teams an advertising platform.
\nPhilippine Super Liga games are being broadcast by Sports5.
\nTicket sales, TV ratings go up
\nInterest in volleyball has also increased in the collegiate level where it has been one of the marquee events, particularly in the UAAP.
\nDuring game days, gate receipts of volleyball have, at times, beaten those of basketball and even those of the PBA, insiders said.
\nMoreover, television ratings of volleyball games have been \u201cphenomenal,\u201d proving that volleyball indeed is now a mainstream sport.
\n![\"UAAP-1\"](\"http://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/UAAP-1.jpg\")
ABS-CBN Sports, the sports division of media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp., has benefited from the reception that its UAAP broadcast portfolio \u2013 including basketball and volleyball \u2013 has been receiving from the audience.
\u201cThe UAAP is a prime broadcasting property for ABS-CBN Sports because it allows us to draw new audiences. That\u2019s valuable to a broadcaster. Every new audience that you able to draw into your network is in the long run will help in the total balance of viewership,\u201d said Dino Laurena, ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head.
\nNo figures were provided but in the financial statement submitted by ABS-CBN to the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first six months ending June 30, 2015, \u201cTotal revenues of narrowcast and sports was up by 25.7%,\u201d which it describes as a significant increase.
\nOver at the NCAA, owing to the sport\u2019s popularity, volleyball has been made a mandatory sport along with basketball, swimming, and athletics.
\n\u201cThe NCAA\u2019s goal is to increase participation not just in a few sports but all and the NCAA plans to make it all mandatory sports in the future. It started with volleyball first because all schools are already active when it comes to volleyball,\u201d said Season 92 Mancom member Peter Cayco of Arellano University of the league\u2019s decision.
\nBeach volleyball also on the rise
\nVolleyball\u2019s ascent as a sport of choice for Filipinos is not only confined to the indoor variant as it has already spilled over to beach volleyball which is also on the rise.
\nA number of organized beach volleyball leagues have been established in the last couple of years, including by the PSL, which counts among its competing teams Sporteum Philippines (Accel), Benguet Eletric Cooperative, Cignal TV, United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (Foton), Gilligan\u2019s Restaurant, Manila Electric Co., Petron, Federated Distributors, Inc. (Philips Gold), F2 Global Logistics, Inc. and ARC Refreshments Corp. (RC Cola).
\nThe latest entrant to the burgeoning beach volleyball scene is Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR), an organization formed last year by former Ateneo female volleyball players. Among BVR\u2019s mission is to further the development and growth of beach volleyball in the country.
\nAnd in just short a time the group is happy of the inroads that it has made with the tournaments it has set up done in partnership with the likes of ABS-CBN, PLDT, and the SM Group.
\nThis is apart from the tie-ups it has made with local sponsors in places it is staging its events like Boracay, La Union, Negros Occidental, and Cagayan.
\n\u201cWe are happy to partner with BVR and other volleyball leagues. We are always interested in showing emerging sports. It\u2019s a natural progression that we go to beach volleyball,\u201d said Jojo Neri-Estacio, ABS-CBN Sports+Action channel head, of their decision to add BVR in their portfolio of sports.
\n\u201cIndoor is already organized and we want beach volleyball to also grow. It also complements our portfolio of sports and we also believe it will also help others outside of Metro Manila,\u201d she added.
\nBullish under Duterte
\nWith the popularity of volleyball growing by leaps and bounds, the challenge now is how to sustain it and grow it in turn.
\n\u201cVolleyball\u2019s financial sustainability is not a problem [moving forward] as everybody is interested in it,\u201d said Mr. Romasanta.
\nWhat is important now, according to the LVPI president, is how the growth of the sport is being \u201cnourished,\u201d including getting new talents which, at the end of the day, are its prime commodities.
\n\u201cThe PSL and V-League have complemented the growth of the sport by exposing it to more people. But new talents should be cultivated so as to make player turnover more seamless,\u201d Mr. Romasanta said.
\n\u201cExposure should also move outside of Metro Manila and Luzon to areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. Grassroots development of the sport also has to be promoted in a far-ranging scale,\u201d he added.
\nMr. Romasanta also expressed bullishness that volleyball\u2019s growth and popularity would be sustained under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
\n\u201cSports in general should get further support under Duterte as he is a sportsman and recognizes the importance of sports in the development of the well-being of people as attested by what he has done in Davao,\u201d he said.
\nFor its part, the Shakey\u2019s V-League remains committed to continue what they have started \u2013 promote volleyball and bring competition that that every stakeholder, from the fans, sponsors and teams, will appreciate and enjoy.
\n\u201cThis is where it all started. Before volleyball was not given much attention but now it is almost at par as far as following and interest go with basketball. Volleyball is here to stay,\u201d Mr. Liao said.
\nMichael Angelo S. Murillo (@bakel3210 on Twitter) is a 大象传媒 reporter who also writes a column about sports. He also covers lifestyle and motoring events every now and then.
\n", "content_text": " \nBy Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Reporter\nVolleyball is no longer an emerging sport.\nFor the past decade, it has become one of the Philippines\u2019 mainstream sports, attracting not only players and fans but businesses as well.\nThanks to its popularity, companies have capitalized on volleyball\u2019s viability as a platform for sponsorships and promoting market awareness.\n\u201cVolleyball has moved beyond being an emerging sport and is now very popular and things are looking up as everybody is on board. From the schools, suppliers, sponsors and other stakeholders, everybody wants to be part of it,\u201d said Jose A. Romasanta, president of the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI), the national sports association in charge of volleyball.\nLocal volleyball gets global recognition\nWith local volleyball in the \u201cpink of health,\u201d the LVPI official said that international volleyball governing bodies have recognized the efforts of the local association of the sport.\n\u201cOne key result of volleyball\u2019s resurgence in the country is the recognition that we are getting from the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB or the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de Volleyball). Prior to this we did not have such kind of support,\u201d said Mr. Romasanta, also the first vice-president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.\n\u201cThe organizations have recognized the organizational structure that the country has with volleyball and the tremendous activity presently happening here and they want us on board as they see us an asset. Which is why we have been granted hosting duties for events and we have been given good feedback,\u201d he added.\nLater this year, the Philippines will host the Asian Women\u2019s Club Volleyball Championship in September and FIVB Volleyball Women\u2019s Club World Championship in October, which are opportunities, Mr. Romasanta said, to further boost the sport\u2019s popularity as well as showcase the phenomenal drawing power it has built in the last several years.\nV-League started by basketball stakeholders\nTalking about the growth of local volleyball will not be complete without the mention of the Shakey\u2019s V-League, whose establishment was instrumental in further boosting the sport\u2019s awareness.\nEstablished in 2004 by a group of people who, interestingly enough, were more associated with basketball, the V-League has done more than its fair share in promoting the sport.\n\u201cWe are now on our 13th season. The V-League was actually formed by basketball people. The late Jun Bernardino, Moying Martilino, Ricky Palou, Chito Loyzaga, Sonny Barrios and Norman Black, they were the founding members,\u201d said Shakey\u2019s V-League long-time Commissioner Tony Boy Liao, recounting how the league began.\n\u201cThey started a basketball league, the inter-high school league, but it did not do well because we already have so many basketball leagues. Ricky Palou then suggested to the group why not go into volleyball so they asked me to join and be a commissioner,\u201d he added.\nThe V-League began as a women\u2019s collegiate league with teams coming from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation (CESAFI).\nCorporations welcome\nIn 2011, it began to welcome corporate and non-collegiate teams which furthered its fan base while also giving participating teams exposure to whatever products they want to promote.\nAmong the corporations that played or still playing in the league include Kia, PLDT, Maynilad, Smart Communications, Sandugo, and Fourbees.\nClub teams include the cities of Davao, Laoag and Baguio, the provinces of Iriga and Cagayan Valley, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police.\nAmong those who recently competed in the Shakey\u2019s V-League Open Conference were University of the Philippines, National University, Baguio, Iriga, Laoag, Philippine Air Force, Bali Pure, and Pocari Sweat.\nLeague officials said the Shakey\u2019s brand, too, has become synonymous to volleyball and its success.\nMr. Liao did not provide figures on how the league has grown in 13 years but he did mention that it can be gauged at least in two ways \u2014 demand for tournaments that they put up, number of teams which want to join, and the extensive television coverage they have been getting.\n\u201cWhen we started, we only had one conference then two conferences and now three, so that\u2019s one way it has grown. Before we were being covered by two channels now we are with ABS-CBN and being covered live and on prime time, and that is success for us,\u201d the V-League commissioner said.\nMr. Liao also added that the league has also become a venue where collegiate players, both female and male, can go after and continue playing while earning a decent living.\nFollowing in the footsteps of the Shakey\u2019s V-League in helping grow the sport of volleyball is the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) which was formed in 2013.\nA semi-professional corporate club volleyball league, its team members include Cignal TV, Inc., F2 Global Logistics, Inc., United Asia Automotive Group (Foton), Petron Corp. and ARC Refreshments Corp. (RC Cola), among others.\nMuch like the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the PSL provides its teams an advertising platform.\nPhilippine Super Liga games are being broadcast by Sports5.\nTicket sales, TV ratings go up\nInterest in volleyball has also increased in the collegiate level where it has been one of the marquee events, particularly in the UAAP.\nDuring game days, gate receipts of volleyball have, at times, beaten those of basketball and even those of the PBA, insiders said.\nMoreover, television ratings of volleyball games have been \u201cphenomenal,\u201d proving that volleyball indeed is now a mainstream sport.\nABS-CBN Sports, the sports division of media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp., has benefited from the reception that its UAAP broadcast portfolio \u2013 including basketball and volleyball \u2013 has been receiving from the audience.\n\u201cThe UAAP is a prime broadcasting property for ABS-CBN Sports because it allows us to draw new audiences. That\u2019s valuable to a broadcaster. Every new audience that you able to draw into your network is in the long run will help in the total balance of viewership,\u201d said Dino Laurena, ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head.\nNo figures were provided but in the financial statement submitted by ABS-CBN to the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first six months ending June 30, 2015, \u201cTotal revenues of narrowcast and sports was up by 25.7%,\u201d which it describes as a significant increase.\nOver at the NCAA, owing to the sport\u2019s popularity, volleyball has been made a mandatory sport along with basketball, swimming, and athletics.\n\u201cThe NCAA\u2019s goal is to increase participation not just in a few sports but all and the NCAA plans to make it all mandatory sports in the future. It started with volleyball first because all schools are already active when it comes to volleyball,\u201d said Season 92 Mancom member Peter Cayco of Arellano University of the league\u2019s decision.\nBeach volleyball also on the rise\nVolleyball\u2019s ascent as a sport of choice for Filipinos is not only confined to the indoor variant as it has already spilled over to beach volleyball which is also on the rise.\nA number of organized beach volleyball leagues have been established in the last couple of years, including by the PSL, which counts among its competing teams Sporteum Philippines (Accel), Benguet Eletric Cooperative, Cignal TV, United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (Foton), Gilligan\u2019s Restaurant, Manila Electric Co., Petron, Federated Distributors, Inc. (Philips Gold), F2 Global Logistics, Inc. and ARC Refreshments Corp. (RC Cola).\nThe latest entrant to the burgeoning beach volleyball scene is Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR), an organization formed last year by former Ateneo female volleyball players. Among BVR\u2019s mission is to further the development and growth of beach volleyball in the country.\nAnd in just short a time the group is happy of the inroads that it has made with the tournaments it has set up done in partnership with the likes of ABS-CBN, PLDT, and the SM Group.\nThis is apart from the tie-ups it has made with local sponsors in places it is staging its events like Boracay, La Union, Negros Occidental, and Cagayan.\n\u201cWe are happy to partner with BVR and other volleyball leagues. We are always interested in showing emerging sports. It\u2019s a natural progression that we go to beach volleyball,\u201d said Jojo Neri-Estacio, ABS-CBN Sports+Action channel head, of their decision to add BVR in their portfolio of sports.\n\u201cIndoor is already organized and we want beach volleyball to also grow. It also complements our portfolio of sports and we also believe it will also help others outside of Metro Manila,\u201d she added.\nBullish under Duterte\nWith the popularity of volleyball growing by leaps and bounds, the challenge now is how to sustain it and grow it in turn.\n\u201cVolleyball\u2019s financial sustainability is not a problem [moving forward] as everybody is interested in it,\u201d said Mr. Romasanta.\nWhat is important now, according to the LVPI president, is how the growth of the sport is being \u201cnourished,\u201d including getting new talents which, at the end of the day, are its prime commodities.\n\u201cThe PSL and V-League have complemented the growth of the sport by exposing it to more people. But new talents should be cultivated so as to make player turnover more seamless,\u201d Mr. Romasanta said.\n\u201cExposure should also move outside of Metro Manila and Luzon to areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. Grassroots development of the sport also has to be promoted in a far-ranging scale,\u201d he added.\nMr. Romasanta also expressed bullishness that volleyball\u2019s growth and popularity would be sustained under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.\n\u201cSports in general should get further support under Duterte as he is a sportsman and recognizes the importance of sports in the development of the well-being of people as attested by what he has done in Davao,\u201d he said.\nFor its part, the Shakey\u2019s V-League remains committed to continue what they have started \u2013 promote volleyball and bring competition that that every stakeholder, from the fans, sponsors and teams, will appreciate and enjoy.\n\u201cThis is where it all started. Before volleyball was not given much attention but now it is almost at par as far as following and interest go with basketball. Volleyball is here to stay,\u201d Mr. Liao said.\nMichael Angelo S. Murillo (@bakel3210 on Twitter) is a 大象传媒 reporter who also writes a column about sports. He also covers lifestyle and motoring events every now and then.", "date_published": "2016-07-25T13:22:26+08:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-25T13:22:26+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/blexticauldulack/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1311207d4ac1996cb586666fe3d56418ca9f007d735b74eb19d3fa440df5c8b4?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Integration" ] } ] }