PHL-China Closer Ties Opens More Trade Opportunities for Agri-Exporters in IFEX Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“There is a lot of interest from the Chinese market lately because of the ‘Duterte factor.’ The Philippine-China relationship has been growing really fast, it’s now at a golden era. We should capture this momentum. It’s an opportunity to promote to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Beijing, including HK and Macau,” explained Antonio Tiu, chairman and CEO of AgriNurture, Inc., and one of the country’s agri-export pioneers participating in the 11th edition of IFEX Philippines on May 19-21 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM).

Based on China’s National Bureau of Statistics, food imports in China have recorded an annual average growth of almost 15 percent in the past five years. By 2018, China is expected to become the top importer of foreign food products, with the total value of food imports set to reach RMB 480 billion (US$77 billion).

“In the upcoming IFEX Philippines, more exporters are excited to venture in the Chinese market now that the economic superpower is considered as the world’s biggest food importer,” said DTI-CITEM Executive Director Clayton Tugonon. “Philippine companies have an edge in capitalizing on China’s huge food demand, thanks to the latest diplomatic arrangements brought by the efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte.”

China has surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest importer of agricultural products, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Even with 500 million farmers, China has been unable to meet the country’s growing demand for agricultural products.

Last March, China signed an agreement to buy USD 1.7 billion worth of fruits and other agricultural products from the Philippines. On February, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua also encouraged the Philippines to pr oduce more dried mangoes to meet the "insatiable" demand in their country.

Ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Beijing last year, China has lifted restrictions on banana, and pineapple exports; and welcomed exports of Philippine mangoes, coconut and dragon fruit as well as lapu-lapu (grouper), crabs, shrimps, prawns, tuna and bangus (milk fish). Led by Duterte, Philippine delegation also managed to secure a commitment from China to finance $24 billion worth of investment projects and credit facilities for the Philippines.

JC Santos, Resorts World Manila’s ‘Annie,’ Red Turnip’s ‘Tribes’ Triumph in 9th Gawad Buhay

Wazzup Pilipinas!

JC Santos, the young Dulaang UP-trained theater actor who became a TV sensation last year when he was cast as the third wheel to the James Reid-Nadine Lustre tandem in the ABS-CBN teleserye “Till I Met You,” won the Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Play for Red Turnip’s “Constellations” at the 9th Gawad Buhay, held at the CCP Little Theater this evening.

His co-star in “Constellations,” Cris Villonco, won the Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Play honors, while the play itself, directed by Rem Zamora, was adjudged Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play.

The Gawad Buhay, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, on its ninth year celebrated not only the best performance and technical achievements of its member-companies’ productions in 2016; it also conferred the Natatanging Gawad Buhay for Lifetime Achievement to stalwart actor-directors Soxie Topacio and Joy Virata.

Topacio and Virata are pioneering members and pillars of their respective theater companies, the Philippine Educational Theater Association and Repertory Philippines, both of which are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. The twin milestone achievement for Philippine theater was a focal point of celebration at the evening’s ceremonies, which also featured a segment jointly honoring Peta founder Cecile Guidote-Alvarez and Rep co-founder Baby Barredo.

The ceremonies were hosted by Jon Santos.

Krystal Brimner, the child actress who appeared as John Lloyd Cruz’ daughter in the Erik Matti thriller “Honor Thy Father,” was adjudged Outstanding Female Lead Performance in a Musical for her turn in “Annie.” The classic Broadway musical, mounted by the Full House Theater Company of Resorts World Manila, won four other awards: Outstanding Female Featured Performance for Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical for director Michael Williams, and Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical and Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical.

Jef Flores scored an unprecedented back-to-back Gawad Buhay win by copping the Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Musical for his turn as the young pre-“Rent” Jonathan Larson in 9 Works Theatrical’s “Tick, Tick... Boom!” Only last year, he was the Outstanding Male Lead recipient in the play counterpart for Red Turnip’s “This Is Our Youth.”

In dance, Rita Winder of Ballet Philippines also notched a rare double nomination—Outstanding Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance for “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko,” a dance-musical that featured the music of the 70’s band VST & Co; and Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance, for “Firebird and Other Ballets.”

The trophy for Outstanding Female Featured Performance for Modern Dance went to dance legend Edna Vida, for “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko,” eliciting some of the evening’s loudest cheers.

The most honored production of the night was also in dance—Ballet Philippines’ “Firebird and Other Ballets,” which went home with seven trophies.

Tying with “Annie’s” five wins was Red Turnip’s “Tribes,” which garnered nods for, among others, Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play for Topper Fabregas, and for the featured performances of Angela Padilla and Teroy Guzman. Peta’s “3 Stars and a Sun,” meanwhile, a musical that employed the music of the late rap artist Francis Magalona, earned four wins, including Outstanding Original Musical and for its libretto by Mixkaela Villalon and Rody Vera.

COMPLETE LIST OF 2016 PHILSTAGE GAWAD BUHAY! WINNERS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES:

Outstanding Original Libretto

Mixkaela Villalon and Rody Vera, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)

Outstanding Translation or Adaptation

Rolando Tinio, “Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-araw” (Tanghalang Pilipino)

Outstanding Musical Direction

Myke Salomon, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)

Outstanding Original Musical Composition

Malek Lopez, “Opera” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production

Carlo Pacis, “Weighted Whispers”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical

PJ Rebullida, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)

Outstanding Costume Design

Gino Gonzales, “3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)

Outstanding Lighting Design

John Batalla, “Almost, Maine” (Repertory Philippines)

Outstanding Sound Design

Teresa Barrozo, “Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Outstanding Set Design

Mio Infante, “American Idiot” (9 Works Theatrical)

Female Lead Performance in a Play

Cris Villonco, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)

Male Lead Performance in a Play

JC Santos, “Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)

Female Featured Performance in a Play

Angela Padilla, “Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Male Featured Performance in a Play

Teroy Guzman, “Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Female Lead Performance in a Musical

Krystal Brimner, “Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Male Lead Performance in a Musical

Jef Flores, “Tick, Tick… Boom” (9 Works Theatrical)

Female Featured Performance in a Musical

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, “Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Male Featured Performance in a Musical

Ariel Reonal, “Tick, Tick…Boom” (9 Works Theatrical)

Female Lead Performance in Modern Dance

Rita Winder, “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko” (Ballet Philippines)

Male Lead Performance in Modern Dance

JM Cordero, “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko” (Ballet Philippines)

Female Featured Performance in Modern Dance

Edna Vida, “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko” (Ballet Philippines)

Male Featured Performance in Modern Dance

Erl Sorilla, “Simoun” (Ballet Philippines)

Female Lead Performance in Classical Dance

Rita Winder, “Firebird”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Male Lead Performance in Classical Dance

Rudy de Dios, “Cinderella” (Ballet Manila)

Female Featured Performance in Classical Dance

Denise Parungao, “Firebird”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Male Featured Performance in Classical Dance

Cyril Fallar, “Firebird”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Modern Dance Production

“Weighted Whispers”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Classical Dance Production

“Firebird”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play

Topper Fabregas, “Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Outstanding Stage Direction for a Musical

Michael Williams, “Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play

“Tribes” (Red Turnip Theater)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical

“Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Modern Dance

“Weighted Whispers”/from “Firebird and Other Ballets” (Ballet Philippines)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play

“Constellations” (Red Turnip Theater)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical

“Annie” (Full House Theater Company)

Outstanding Musical—Original or Translation/Adaptation

“3 Stars and a Sun” (Peta)

Natatanging Gawad Buhay

Joy Virata (Repertory Philippines)

Soxie Topacio (Peta)

Photo by Jaypee Maristaza

Tugade to Investors: Safety, Transparency, No Corruption—Pillars of Dutertenomics

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As the Philippines ushers in the Golden Age of Infrastructure, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade encouraged investors to do business in the country and assured them of a level playing field without corruption.

In a joint press briefing held before the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum held in Cambodia, economic managers and infrastructure agencies presented the grand infrastructure plan of the Duterte administration called BuildBuildBuild as part of DuterteNomics—the government’s economic agenda. Secretary Tugade said that the aggressive infrastructure push will be supplemented with transparency and accountability.

“Come to the Philippines, we’ll take care of your investments. We create a scenario wherein you get a fair return on your investment because we have a safe, secure, transparent and accountable government, and principally, no corruption. We will give you a level playing field,” Tugade said.

Tugade said the government will make full use of technology to eradicate corruption especially during the bidding process, which he said is already being aired live on social media. He also shared that big-ticket projects under the Build Build Build program may be monitored via a transparency portal (www.build.gov.ph), a real-time tool where progress of projects can be tracked.

He added that investors can count on President Duterte to be uncompromising when it comes to corruption.

“The president will not allow corruption in any form, in any shape. President Duterte will be uncompromising when it comes to corruption,” Tugade said. “That is what the President is impressing in every one of us. So that the businessmen will be assured of a level playing field and a safe and secure place of business.”

The Duterte administration seeks to increase public spending on infrastructure to 5.4% of the Gross Domestic Product in 2017, the highest in more than two decades. The move is consistent with President Rodrigo Duterte’s socioeconomic agenda, which aims to reduce poverty from 26.3% in 2015 to 17% by 2022.

Among the high-impact projects presented by the DOTr are new railway networks including the country’s first subway system, development of new and existing airports, maritime developments including the country’s first barge terminal, and other efficient mass transportation systems.