03 MARCH 2019

MOST
INNOVATIVE
BROADSHEET
2018
44TH
PHILIPPINES
BUSINESS
EXPO
JBL‘S IN-EAR
PLASTIC
FANTASTIC
FRYE BIDS
GOODBYE
ANOTHER
C0-WORKING
SPACE OPENS
P11
P17
P13
Jun Vallecera, Editor
Sunday, 3 March 2019
Daily Tribune
SUNDAYBUSINESS
9
Economy sails north
We are very positive with the Philippine
market
By Komfie Manalo
The booming domestic economy and the emerging
prospect of a stronger business environment have attracted
a distributor of luxury yachts and wants to “moor” in the
Philippines to set a foothold in the growing domestic
yachting market.
“We are very positive with the Philippine market,” said
Bianca Jison, Asia Yachting Sales director in an interview
with the Daily Tribune. “We see the economy growing so
fast and we expect it to grow even bigger in the coming
years ahead. So, yes, we are confident now is the perfect
time to come to Philippine shores (to sell luxury yachts).”
A survey released by Capital Economics in December
last year titled Long-Term Global Economic Outlook,
projected the Philippines to become the 18th largest
economy in the world by 2037. The London-based economic
think tank said the country would outpace Turkey, Poland,
Thailand, UAE, Egypt, Colombia, South Africa, Argentina,
Czech Republic, Angola, Morocco and Kenya over the
next 20 years.
Independent data released by the Department of
Finance showed the country’s gross domestic product
(GDP) has been growing at a steady 6.5 percent average
with foreign direct investments reaching an all-time high
$10 billion in 2017 and $9.1 billion in the first 11 months
of 2018.
Filipino yachting community
According to Jison, the domestic market for
expensive boats vary, depending on the character
and needs as the company customizes each yacht
on the specifications of the buyer.
What better way to enjoy exploring our
islands than onboard a beautiful catamaran
that combines high-performance, safety,
space and design all into one amazing
boat.
JISON
“Some buyers want to enjoy a family boat
over weekends, so they probably want a house boat, while
others, particularly the corporate types, might want to host
company parties or even events. It really depends on what
our customers want and we try to give them what they are
looking for,” she added.
Let’s sail
With a brighter prospect here, Asia Yachting has introduced
to the local market French boat Fountaine Pajot, which has
been sailing around the world since 1976 and is encouraging
everyone in the Philippines to create timeless memories by
experiencing the beauty of its waters with those they love.
“The natural beauty of the Philippines archipelago, clear
waters, diverse marine life, warm weather — all make the
Philippines one of the best cruising destinations in Asia,”
New player enters cargo
logistics industry
J&T Express officially commenced
operations in the country yesterday.
THE entry of foreign distributor of luxury yachts is a strong indication of growing confidence on the Philippine economy.
Jison said. “What better way to enjoy
exploring our islands than onboard
a beautiful catamaran that
combines high-performance,
safety, space and design all into
one amazing boat,” she added.
Fountaine Pajot is
a producer of luxury
catamarans. The shipyard
launched its first catamaran
sailboat in 1983, followed
by its inaugural power
catamaran in 1998.
It recently smashed
a sales record for sailing
and motor yachts at the
2019 Miami Boat Show.
Sales included several of
its largest catamarans: Alegria 67 (sailing) and the new
Power 67.
Kevin Corfa, Fountaine Pajot’s business manager for
Asia said the company aims to develop unique expertise
to create high-performing, seaworthy, innovative and
comfortable vessels. For example, “We build true motor
yachts with our hulls designed and manufactured from
the beginning; not like an adaptation of an already
existing sail hull and then converting it into motor.
This means incomparable performance and larger
living space.”
He added, “For sailing yachts, our helm stations, winches and
other gears are very well designed to enable easier maneuvering
even for inexperienced sailors. Most FP owners recognize this
aspect as superior compared to the competition.”
By AJ Bajo
Hong Kong-established e-commerce
courier J&T Express officially
commenced operations in the country
on Saturday, leveraging on technological
innovation to penetrate the booming
domestic express delivery service and
digital market.
As one of its primary goals, J&T
Express is eyeing to expand to about
1,000 branches across the archipelago.
“We’re planning it in three years,
but we (also) want to achieve it in two
years,” J&T Express brand director Zoe
Chi told reporters after the launching
held in the courier’s biggest distribution
GSIS offers emergency
loan to ‘Usman’ victims
The Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS)
is offering emergency loan
to its active members and
old-age pensioners who
were affected by tropical
depression Usman in
Gloria, Oriental Mindoro.
Old-age pensioners
residing in the area
may personally apply
for a P20,000 loan.
The deadline for
application is 18 March.
Active members with no
existing emergency loan
may apply for a P20,000
loan while those who
have not yet paid their
emergency loan in full
may borrow up to P40,000,
from which the remaining
balance will be deducted.
To qualify, active
members must be working
or residing in the
calamity-declared areas,
not on leave of absence
without pay, have no
arrears in paying monthly
mandatory life insurance
or social insurance
premium contributions,
and have no unpaid
loans for more than six
months. They should also
have a minimum net takehome
pay of P5,000 after
the monthly premium
contributions and loan
amortizations have been
deducted.
Active members may
apply through the GSIS
Wireless Automated
Processing System
(GWAPS) kiosk located
in all GSIS branches
and extension offices;
provincial capitols; city
halls; selected municipal
offices; large government
center in Taguig.
The courier entered the Indonesian
market in 2018, coming in second to
the top after only three years with a
record of 1.5 million packages delivered
in one day.
Currently, J&T Express is present in
Southeast Asian countries Vietnam, Malaysia,
Philippines and soon in Thailand. The courier
is looking at expanding its delivery service
country-to-country afterwards, it said.
“The e-commerce market has grown
exponentially and is poised to grow
further in the Philippines,” J&T Express
Philippines chief executive officer Dean
Ding said.
“That is why we are extremely
agencies such as the
Department of Education;
29 Robinsons Malls and
selected SM City branches
in North EDSA, Manila,
Pampanga, Cebu, SM Aura
in Taguig, SM Southmall in
Las Piñas and Mall of Asia
in Pasay City.
Old-age pensioners
residing in the area may
personally apply for a
P20,000 loan. Pensioners
who are also active
members may apply for
the loan only once.
Emergency loan is
payable in 36 equal monthly
instalments at 6 percent
interest rate per annum.
It is covered by a loan
redemption insurance,
which deems the loan
fully paid in case of the
borrower’s demise, provided
that loan repayment is up
to date.
excited to officially launch J&T
Express in the country and become
the express service of choice of
Filipino merchants who are looking
to sell their products online.”
The technology-based and Internet
development express company so far
has established 254 branches in nine
regions in the Philippines since
starting preparations six months
prior.
It also has 41 distribution centers
spanning from Baguio in the north
and General Santos, Mindanao in the
south, with a manpower of about 1,900
employees and a fleet of 130 delivery
trucks.
How true is it that money from the conjugal dictatorship may
soon flow at a major newspaper publication to help boost the
candidacy of a sibling who is running in this year’s midterm
polls?
For all the controversy surrounding
the inheritance fiasco of the late George
S.K. Ty — one of the 10 richest Filipinos
according to Forbes Magazine — GT
Capital Holdings Inc., it turns out, is not
stingy when it comes to donating for a
worthy cause.
GT Capital is a major-listed
Philippine conglomerate involved in
banking (Metrobank), automotive
(Toyota), property (Federal Land
and Pro-Friends), infrastructure
(Metro Pacific), insurance (AXA) and
motorcycle financing (Sumisho).
Just recently, the primary vehicle
for the holding and management of the
diversified business interests of the Ty
family, reportedly donated P30 million
to the Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum
Foundation Inc. through the George Ty
Foundation Inc.
It is said to be the most sizeable
donation for the restoration of the
museum housed at the century-old
Gotiaco building named in honor of Don
Pedro Gotiaco, one of the early Chinese
settlers in Cebu. Other Cebu-based
businesses that pitched in for the project
gave only what can be considered paltry
sums. The restoration began in 2016
and was completed after 29 months of
construction work.
Extra care was taken to preserve the
21 external and internal columns as well
as the original elevator shaft claimed to
house the first elevator in the Queen
City of the South.
He wants to know if there is an
environmental regulation that
can avert this practice of most
developers.
Last we heard, the wives of the late
business tycoon are set to meet in court
to settle their inheritance based on the
86-year-old’s last will and testament.
Ty’s first wife, Lourdes de Lara-Ty,
petitioned the inheritance dispute after
questioning the contents of Ty’s last will
and testament that allegedly left her
We could only ask
and her two children out of
the inheritance. The second
wife, Mary Vy, had allegedly
claimed all the inheritance
left by the late tycoon.
Reports have it that
there were no official
records that could confirm
Ty married De Lara in
Hong Kong in 1961. Official government
records, on the other hand, showed Ty
and Vy lawfully wed in the Philippines.
They had four children.
Ty succumbed to pancreatic cancer
November last year at the age of 86.
Manny Angeles
q q q
There is an ongoing joke that the
“silent minority” could be back in the
Senate with the political comeback of
actor and former Sen. Lito Lapid.
Lapid, who is running under the banner
of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, is
among the frontrunners in the “Magic 12.”
But what’s this we heard that this early, his
critics are out to thwart his bid because
of the cash smuggling case of his wife,
Marissa Tadeo-Lapid, who was sentenced
to five months of home confinement and
36 months probation after pleading guilty
to the charges filed by the US immigration
in 2013.
Lapid’s wife originally
came under suspicion in
2010 when she failed to
declare $40,000 in currency
following her arrival at
McCarran International
Airport on a flight from
the Philippines. According
to court documents, US
Customs and Border Protection officers
subsequently found the money in Lapid’s
luggage inside two socks and a cloth bag
concealed under the suitcase’s lining.
It is said to be the most sizeable
donation for the restoration of the
museum housed at the century-old
Gotiaco building named in honor
of Don Pedro Gotiaco.
The question now foremost in
everybody’s mind is, where did the money
come from? Has the former senator got
anything to do with this mess? Is he or his
wife liable for any offense in the country?
We could only ask.
q q q
TITTLETATTLES: Reacting to our
previous column, a reader says he
has it from a good source that trees
at the entrance of the Ayala South
Arca project in Taguig are being cut
instead of balled, as should be the
case so that they can be replanted
elsewhere. He wants to know if
there is an environmental regulation
that can avert this practice of most
developers. “They have done this to
Makati, now they’re doing it again in
Taguig,” the reader says… How true
is it that money from the conjugal
dictatorship may soon flow at a major
newspaper publication to help boost
the candidacy of a sibling who is
running in this year’s midterm polls?
The infusion of capital reportedly
came after negotiations for the
acquisition of the newspaper with
the top honcho of a giant corporation
fell through…A little birdie told us
that horse racing, which enjoyed
its heydays in the nineties, is now
a dying industry. The advent of
online games — some of which feature
horseracing apps — has affected the
sales of the three racing clubs in the
country. He says the only chance that
it could survive is for the three clubs
to join hands and merge into one. As
the late horseracing announcer Tony
Trinidad hollers at the start of every
race, “There they go!”