Category: Business Mirror

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Thursday the successful completion of the Fourth Round of the Green Energy Auction Program (GEA-4), advancing over 10,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (RE) projects.

The agency awarded 123 winning bidders, representing a diverse mix of technologies including ground-mounted solar, roof-mounted solar, floating solar, integrated renewable energy with energy storage systems (IRESS) and onshore wind.

The total awarded capacity reached 10,195.49 MW, with the successful rate of 96 percent from the installation target and committed to be delivered starting 2026 until 2029.

Of which, ground-mounted solar projects accounted for over 4,179.09 MW, with major contributions from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids.

Floating solar emerged as a strong contender, securing 2,284 MW, including large-scale projects in Laguna, Pampanga, and Negros.

Onshore wind projects added 2,518.29 MW, with significant developments planned in Quezon, Sorsogon, and Visayas provinces.

Integrated RE with energy storage systems contributed 1,189.29 MW, enhancing grid reliability and energy security.

Roof-mounted solar, while smaller in scale, added 24.82 MW, promoting decentralized and urban clean energy solutions.

The DOE is requiring all winning bidders to submit key compliance documents, including affidavits of undertaking, performance bonds, system impact studies, and proof of financial obligations by December 6, 2025.

Our adventure continued as our tour bus made its way to the Nalati Alpine Grasslands in Yiling, Zinjiang. The breathtaking landscape combines rolling grasslands, lush forests, crystal-clear streams, and snow-capped mountains. For centuries, nomadic tribes such as the Kazakhs and the Mongols have used these fertile grasslands to pasture their cattle.

According to a Mongolian legend, the great warrior Genghis Khan passed through these grasslands after a grueling battle. When the skies cleared, golden sunlight bathed the vast land, making Genghis Khan exclaim ‘Nalati!’, meaning ‘sunshine.’ And that’s how the place got its name.

Tourists come here to enjoy the stunning scenery and the rolling meadows. There is horseback riding and hiking for the sports-minded and adventurous visitors. During the winter, people go skiing, sledding, and snowboarding.

The Yurt Experience

Pretty Yurts- circular Mongolian tents that are the traditional homes of the Kazakhs dot the grasslands. Some have been converted into tourist lounges. We entered one of the yurts, curious to see how it looked inside.

Warm air greeted us as we entered. Colorful carpets covered the floor. A low, long table was laden with an enticing array of Kazakh snacks and sweets. For a fee of 30 yuan per person (around P240), we were invited to sit, enjoy the snacks, and take photos. We readily agreed. Soon, we were served steaming cups of warm, fresh cow’s milk lightly infused with tea, along with an assortment of nuts, dates, milk candy, and cookies. We had fun trying on the Mongolian headgear and happily snapped photos.

Through our unofficial interpreter, Tsinoy journalist Wilson Lee Flores, we chatted with the Kazakh woman who served our snacks. She and her husband owned 50 cows and two horses, and their two children attended school in the city. In winter, their family moves with their herd to a warmer area. Life, she said, is very peaceful in their community, and tourism provides extra income for their family. Their dream is for their two children to pursue university education after high school.

Duku Highway

Because of the heavy snowfall, we were told that our plan to pass through the Duku Highway would have to be cancelled. This high altitude route is open only for four months in a year, as the unpredictable weather often makes it impassible. But at the last minute, we received news that the high altitude highway had reopened. We were excited because the 560-kilometer Duku Highway is said to be one of China’s most epic road trips, a destination rather than just a route between two points.

The highway is also called Hero Road in honor of the 168 soldiers who perished while building the highway from 1973 to 1983.

Our group had to be divided into smaller groups to fit into mini-vans as our bus was too big for the narrow, cliff-hugging sections of the Duku Highway. It was an eight-hour drive from Nalati to the so-called Celestial Mountains or Tianshan Mountain peaks.

We hardly noticed the time as we were amazed by the panoramic view of the canyons, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and the leaves of the trees that were turning golden yellow. We had to avoid herds of cows, sheep, and horses that would block our vehicle every now and then. I can only imagine how silk and spice traders braved this difficult route during ancient times.

At two-hour intervals, we would stop for a toilet break and do a bit of shopping in the makeshift outdoor markets that sold local food, fruits, snacks, and souvenirs.

Because of the varying altitudes along the highway, travelers usually experience dramatic changes in weather and scenery all within a single journey. We layered our clothing as we climbed to a higher altitude. It was a freezing negative 2 degrees when we reached our destination. The Tianshan mountain range, a world heritage site, was truly breathtaking and worth the long drive.

Futuristic Airport

After eight days of traversing the Silk Road, we boarded a four-hour flight from Urumqi back to Beijing. Although our plane landed at the old Beijing Capital Airport, we dropped by the new Beijing Daxing International Airport-the largest airport in the world and widely regarded as one of the most beautiful.

Designed by the late world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, Daxing Airport is a stunning example of modern architecture, with flowing curves and muted colors. Its terminals radiate out from a central hub, making passenger movement remarkably efficient. It can accommodate up to 100 million passengers annually, with four runways currently in use and plans to expand to seven, underscoring China’s ambitious vision for global connectivity.

The Future is Upon Us

On our second day in Beijing, we visited the Robot Mall. At the entrance, a lady in a black suit greeted us. She was slim, pretty, and had flawless, milky white skin. I asked her if she was a robot. She laughed and replied, ‘No, I am human’. She brought us to another lady who was speaking, and whose skin and hair looked human. But this time I could tell the difference: This was a humanoid. I couldn’t help but laugh at how convincing she looked.

I knew we would be seeing some hi-tech gadgets, but what I saw exceeded my expectations. There was a dog that could teach languages; mechanoid doctors and dentists who can perform high precision surgery remotely, and robots that can dance, play basketball, and soccer. The highlight for me was the handsome robotic butler who could mix drinks and serve food. If he could clean my house, I would have bought him on the spot.

These were just a few of the most advanced products on display at Beijing’s Robot Mall, also known as the Humanoid 4S Store. The mall sells about 50 kinds of robot products from over 40 domestic manufacturers. It felt like we were catching a glimpse of the future, and our group couldn’t help but be impressed.

Many of these robots are already being used in warehousing, logistics, delivery and even in restaurants as chefs. In fact, in one of the hotels we stayed in, we were surprised when a robot rolled up to our door to deliver our order, a reminder that the future is no longer distant; it is already here.

Beijing Landmarks

One of the awesome man-made wonders that no visitor to China should miss is the Great Wall. Built over 2,000 years ago as a defense against invasions, the monumental brick structure still stands tall and proud, an enduring symbol of history and culture.

We met a woman dressed in a traditional Chinese costume. I asked if we could borrow her costume for some photos, and to our delight, she agreed. We learned that she was a nurse from Wuhan who would love to visit the Philippines someday. We exchanged numbers and invited her to come and visit our beautiful country.

We visited another iconic landmark, the Royal Summer Palace in Beijing, originally developed in the 12th century as a retreat for emperors. Much of it has been preserved but tourists are no longer allowed to enter the palace itself after some of its valuable antiques were stolen a few years ago.

Even so, visitors can still get a glimpse of life in the olden days. We rode the dragon boat and imagined ourselves as royal guests, enjoying the serene lake and cool air. Along the walkways of the palace grounds, souvenir shops and food stores added to the lively atmosphere.

Diplomacy and Friendship

One of the highlights of our tour was a special dinner with the Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz, his wife Ana, and several Embassy officials. In his brief remarks, Ambassador FlorCruz expressed hopes that despite current maritime issues between the Philippines and China, both nations can continue to improve our people-to-people cooperation, which he described as ‘a foundation that can withstand storms.’ He explained that our maritime issues with China is not the sum total of our relations’, and underscored the importance of expanding economic collaboration, educational exchanges, and enhanced trade and tourism.

Former Senator Nikki Coseteng expressed her appreciation that Ambassador FlorCruz was chosen as the Philippines’ envoy to China during this time of uncertainty. ‘We can’t discount the possibility of our country sinking to the bottom of the sea if we choose to go to war with China’, she candidly remarked. She said that ‘What we started as our people-to-people relations will hopefully make our government realize that both countries desire peace and a meaningful relationship.’

She added, ‘Although Xinjiang was a no-go place in the past, this trip opened our eyes to many things. We enjoyed ourselves, and it was a very safe trip.’

THE Premier Volleyball League’s leading squads look to formalize their quarterfinal stints when they face rivals looking to stay in contention on Saturday in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

The surging ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles aim for their sixth straight victory and a formal entry into the Round of Eight as they take on the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the 6:30 p.m. main game at the Candon City Arena.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters, who hold the second-best record, face Galeries Tower Highrisers in the 4 p.m. match.

Fresh off a sweep of the first phase of the two-part prelims-highlighted by a stirring come-from-behind win over the Akari Chargers last Tuesday-the Thunderbelles look to notch their sixth win in as many matches as they battle the Flying Titans.

Import Anna DeBeer continues to power the team with her blend of offense, leadership and composure, inspiring a youthful roster now thrust into the PVL spotlight.

Also starring AC Miner, Riza Nogales, Thea Gagate, Chinnie Arroyo, Mycah Go, setter Cloane Mondonedo and libero Alyssa Eroa, along with veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga and Fiola Ceballos, the Thunderbelles are determined to sustain their winning run.

The Flying Titans enter the match with urgency after dropping their last two outings, including a tough straight-sets loss to the resurgent Capital1 Solar Spikers.

With import Marlee Smith leading the charge, Choco Mucho has shown flashes of brilliance but struggled to close out sets-something they must address to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.

With a seasoned local core featuring Isa Molde, Maddie Madayag, Kat Tolentino, Cherry Nunag, Des Cheng and Royse Tubino, the Titans eye a strong rebound.

At 2-3, Choco Mucho sits at 10th and must sweep their remaining three matches to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth.

PLDT, currently holding a 4-1 record and chasing a rare season sweep of all three conference titles, is virtually assured of a quarterfinal spot.

Galeries Tower winless in five matches, are eager to finally break through.

Complacency could be PLDT’s biggest enemy. With import Anastasiia Bavykina, Savi Davison, Kim Dy, Majoy Baron, Alleiah Malaluan and Dell Palomata in form, they are heavily favored. Still, Jelene Cvijovic, Ysa Jimenez, Jean Asis, Dim Pacres and Roselle Baliton of Galeries Tower remain motivated to deliver a statement performance.

The Office of the Special Assistant to the President has expressed its full support to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao leadership in sending 500 former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to perform a free Hajj pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Pilgrimage Authority and the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’, aims to provide the beneficiaries with the opportunity to fulfill one of Islam’s Five Pillars – the Hajj, a sacred religious journey that every Muslim who is physically and financially capable is required to perform at least once in their lifetime.

Under the program, the selected beneficiaries, who are among the decommissioned members of the MILF, will receive full government sponsorship covering travel, accommodation, transportation within Saudi Arabia, and administrative fees, allowing them to focus solely on the spiritual aspect of their pilgrimage.

The OSAP said the initiative demonstrates the Marcos administration’s continuing commitment to the normalization and reintegration of former MILF fighters into mainstream society, in line with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF.

BARMM officials said this latest batch of pilgrims follows a similar program earlier implemented by the regional government in which 350 individuals, including 200 decommissioned combatants, were granted free Hajj subsidies as part of peace-building and community rehabilitation efforts.

According to Islamic scholars, the Hajj involves several sacred rites – including entering a state of spiritual purity known as Ihram, circumambulating the Kaaba, walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah, standing in vigil at Mount Arafat, staying in the tent city of Mina, and symbolically stoning the devil at the Jamarat walls – all performed as acts of devotion and humility before God.

Saudi authorities have implemented modern systems to ensure the safety and comfort of millions of pilgrims, including crowd-management measures, cooling facilities, and digital platforms for tracking and scheduling rituals.

For the former combatants, the free Hajj is seen not only as a spiritual milestone but also as an affirmation of their renewed identity as peaceful citizens contributing to regional harmony and development.

BARMM officials emphasized that the program complements ongoing socio-economic initiatives for ex-combatants, which include livelihood training, cash assistance, housing support, and skills development under the normalization process.

They said the inclusion of a spiritual component such as the Hajj pilgrimage strengthens the holistic approach to reintegration, helping participants rediscover a sense of dignity, purpose, and belonging as they rejoin their communities.

Officials from both the OSAP and BARMM hope that this unprecedented initiative will deepen the resolve of former MILF members to sustain the peace process and serve as an inspiration for other combatants to embrace life beyond conflict.

TWO more Philippine cities joined the Creative Cities Network of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauded the inclusion of Dumaguete and Quezon City in the prestigious international list of creativity-driven urban cities, ‘further cementing the country’s position as a champion of sustainable urban development,’ it said in a news statement.

The Unesco made a separate announcement of 58 additional Creative Cities, which now join its dedicated network as part of its celebration of World Cities Day on October 31. This brings the network to 408 cities in more than 100 countries, recognized for their commitment to creative industries and cultural life.

‘Unesco Creative Cities demonstrate that culture and creative industries can be concrete drivers of development. By welcoming 58 new cities, we are strengthening a Network where creativity supports local initiatives, attracts investment and promotes social cohesion,’ said agency Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Quezon City, which is home to the country’s biggest film studios, broadcasting networks, and the annual QCinema International Film Festival, earned the ‘Creative City of Film’ distinction. It is among the first cities in Southeast Asia to receive the recognition, strengthening its position as the country’s film capital and the ‘heart of Philippine cinema.’

Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental was recognized as a ‘Creative City of Literature,’ for its long-standing heritage in literature and its vibrant community of writers and readers. The city is home to Silliman University, which hosts the annual National Writers Workshop, the oldest creative writing workshop in Asia, which has produced generations of acclaimed Filipino authors.

In a statement, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said, ‘QC Film City is now a name that will forever be etched in the legacy of every filmmaker, artist, and storyteller who has shaped our city’s vibrant film heritage. From the golden era of Sampaguita Pictures and the brilliance of icons like Lino Brocka, Dolphy, Nora Aunor and Fernando Poe Jr., to the new generation of creators bringing our stories to life today-this recognition honors each and every one of them.’

She dedicated the Unesco recognition to ‘the workers behind the screen and the QC citizens who deserve access to quality films.’

In a post on Facebook, Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel ‘Chiquiting’ Sagarbarria said: ‘Dumaguete is a veritable City of Stories, a confluence of creative narratives which have shaped its cultural identity.. [We have] also produced numerous winners of national literary awards such as the Palanca, and two National Artists-Edith Tiempo for Literature, and Eddie Romero for Film. No other Philippine city of its comparable size can boast this claim.’

He noted: ‘Today, Dumaguete’s literary tradition is enriched with new initiatives by grassroots creatives, including the Buglas Writers Guild (creative writers), Pinspired (storytellers through design), Beetzee and Lutas Film Festival (filmmakers), Youth Advocates Through Theater Arts (theater artists), Belltower Project (musicians), and others.’

With the addition of QC and Dumaguete, the Philippines now has five cities in the UN Creative Cities Network (UCCN), which includes Baguio City for Crafts and Folk Art (2017), Cebu City for Design (2019), and Iloilo City for Gastronomy (2023).

Unesco said it added a new theme to its UCCN-Architecture-to the seven existing ones: Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, and Music. ‘These cities stand out for their active commitment to culture and creativity, as well as their innovative approaches to urban planning,’ added Azoulay.

Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland in Finland, and Quito in Ecuador were among the cities recognized for their architecture.

Maya, the country’s leading all-in-one finance platform, was named Apex Company of the Year at the 2025 Asia CEO Awards-recognizing its impact in reshaping how Filipinos access payments and banking through technology.

The award celebrates organizations that deliver exceptional economic and social impact. Maya was recognized for using its technology to make payments and banking simpler, more inclusive and more efficient for millions of Filipinos.

Maya also received a Circle of Excellence citation for Technology Company of the Year, following its 2023 win as Most Innovative Company of the Year.

Rebuilding Banking for the Digital Generation

Traditional banking in the Philippines has historically relied on branch networks and slow credit processes, leaving out many young, digital-savvy Filipinos with limited financial history. Maya changed that.

Powered by Maya Philippines for payments and Maya Bank for digital banking, Maya’s all-in-one platform connects deposits, credit, payments and investments through a single ecosystem: the Maya app for individuals, the Maya Business app for MSMEs and Maya Business Manager for enterprises.

All are built on Maya’s proprietary technology and AI-driven decision engine, enabling instant credit evaluation, personalized offers, and faster, more accessible services.

‘Our mission has always been to reimagine how banking works for Filipinos-by making it simpler, more inclusive, and deeply integrated into their everyday lives,’ said Shailesh Baidwan, Maya Group President and Co-Founder of Maya Bank. ‘This recognition from the Asia CEO Awards affirms how technology, when done right, can drive both economic value and meaningful social impact.’

Technology as the Core Advantage

‘We build technology that can see, learn and respond in real time,’ said Alfred Lo, Maya Group Chief Technology Officer. ‘That’s how we make financial services faster, safer and more personal.’

Maya has one of the largest fintech technology and data teams in the Philippines, building and maintaining a unified architecture for payments, lending and banking. Built on a cloud-first, mobile-first infrastructure, Maya has evolved into an AI-first organization, with models that automate credit scoring, optimize pricing and personalize engagement in real time. This structure allows rapid product innovation while keeping risk and compliance tightly integrated.

Driving Financial Inclusion and National Impact

Beyond building a powerful digital finance ecosystem, Maya is committed to advancing financial inclusion and supporting national development. Through its MSME programs, Maya enables thousands of small entrepreneurs to access digital payments, credit and business tools-helping them scale and compete in an increasingly digital economy.

Maya also works with public and private institutions to promote financial literacy and inclusion among key sectors. These initiatives include financial education programs for students and teachers in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), partnerships that support national athletes through its collaboration with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and collaborations with government agencies to modernize payments and improve service delivery.

By empowering individuals, communities and institutions, Maya contributes to building a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem for the country.

The Philippine economy grew by four percent in the third quarter this year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

This brings the year-to-date average gross domestic product (GDP) to 5 percent, which is below the government’s target range of 5.5 to 6.5 percent.

The 4 percent growth rate of the economy in the third quarter was slower than the 5.5 percent in the second quarter this year and the 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2024.

On the supply side, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said services and industry posted ‘weaker growth’ with a sharp contraction in public construction due to ‘stricter’ validation measures for DPWH’s civil works.

The country’s socioeconomic planning chief said this is also due to the implementation of stricter requirements that delayed billings and disbursements for government projects.

On the demand side, he said household consumption growth slowed to 4.1 percent.

‘Widespread cancellations of school, work, and travel activities due to typhoons likely dampened spending,’ Balisacan explained.

Moreover, the DEPDev chief said consumer confidence may have been affected by the ongoing probes and discussions on government infrastructure spending, prompting many households to postpone purchases, especially durable goods.

THE country’s farm output grew by 2.8 percent in the third quarter, owing to the absence of adverse weather disruptions.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the value of agriculture and fisheries production reached P408.94 billion in the July to September period, higher than last year’s P397.43 billion.

This marked the third consecutive increment in the farm sector’s performance this year, based on PSA data.

While the fisheries and livestock subsectors contracted, the PSA said the crops and poultry subsectors continued to rise, enough to support the overall performance of the agriculture industry during the reference period.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. attributed the farm sector’s growth to the absence of weather-related shocks.

‘Clearly we are heading in the right direction, as things are improving a bit every quarter. We’re having fairly good weather this year, which is helpful,’ Tiu Laurel told reporters on Thursday.

‘Assuming [that the agriculture sector] won’t be severely affected by the upcoming typhoons, the outlook is good,’ he said.

If the growth continues until the last quarter, Tiu Laurel expressed confidence that the overall farm output would land on positive territory in 2025, up from the 2.2 percent decline recorded last year.

PSA data showed crop production in the third quarter, which amounted to P218 billion, grew by 3 percent year-on-year. Rice output posted a double-digit growth at 12.6 percent, while corn production slid by 2.9 percent.

Poultry, which is valued at P75.96 billion, registered an 18.6-percent increase. The production of chicken and chicken eggs recorded an expansion at 12.4 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively.

Tiu Laurel acknowledged that the fisheries subsector slumped in the reference period, while the livestock subsector remains gripped by the effects of African swine fever (ASF), which reduced hog inventory and crimped pork output since it ravaged local farms in 2019.

Based on PSA data, the fisheries subsector reached P54.47 billion in the third quarter, contracting by 2.7 percent year-on-year.

Livestock production amounted to P60.51 billion and dropped by 1.9 percent in the reference period, with the value of hog production recording a 1.4-percent drop.

CREDIT growth is seen holding firm in the coming months, as strong domestic demand and a more accommodative monetary policy continue to fuel bank lending, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

In the BSP’s ‘Report on the Philippine Financial System for the First Semester of 2025,’ bank lending grew by 10.9 percent to P15.9 trillion in June 2025 on the back of strong domestic demand.

The BSP said the expansion of corporate loan portfolios was fueled by robust sectoral demand, particularly from the energy and real estate sectors, as well as from small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The growth on the retail side, meanwhile, was supported by digitalization initiatives, such as cross-selling, targeted marketing and data-driven lead generation-particularly in housing and auto loans, the central bank added.

Improving economic conditions, with the ratio of banks’ credit-to-GDP rising from 56.3 percent in June 2024 to 58.0 percent in June 2025, also contributed to sustained bank lending.

‘Expectations of further policy rate reductions and a supportive macro-financial environment are expected to bolster lending activity moving forward,’ the BSP said.

Lending remained mostly domestic in orientation and broad-based across key sectors, with real estate continuing to be the top borrowing sector, consisting of 18.1 percent of total loans.

Households, electricity and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and financial and insurance activities are some of the other major borrowers, according to the BSP.

Further, growth in consumer lending also reached record levels, driven by strong borrower demand, favorable financing terms and improved consumer sentiment.

Total consumer loans, accounting for 21.4 percent of total loans, went up by 21.2 percent to P3.4 trillion, surpassing the 19.7 percent growth in June 2024.

Despite evolving risks and emerging opportunities, the BSP said the Philippine banking industry maintained its growth momentum in the first half of 2025.

Assets rose 7.7 percent year-on-year to P28.2 trillion in June this year, supported by stable domestic deposits and strong liquidity and capital buffers.

Loans and investments comprised the bulk of total assets, and asset quality management remained satisfactory, the BSP noted.

As a result of prudent risk management and sound credit governance, profit grew by 4.1 percent year-on-year to P198.1 billion in the first half of the year.

‘The banking system’s solid performance underscores its strength in seizing opportunities, navigating emerging risks, driving innovation, and championing inclusive and sustainable growth,’ BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said.

‘In line with this, the BSP will continue pursuing policies that further strengthen the banking system. This supports an environment that helps banks to continue growing, supporting economic activity, and responding to the evolving needs of Filipinos,’ Remolona added.

ON November 4, 2025, with Typhoon Tino on its path to northern Palawan, I traveled with a team from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to Puerto Princesa. No worries, we were assured, as no strong typhoon has ever ravaged the island of Palawan

I was to represent the cinematic arts as a film critic and educator, the first time that a film component has been included in the ‘Budayaw’-a combination of the Bahasa Indonesia word ‘budaya’ and the Filipino word ‘dayaw’, which means good or beautiful-a grand cultural exchange among the member countries of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The festival has for its goal the strengthening of the regional ties through the celebration of shared cultural diversity and heritage.

Held every two years on a rotational basis among the member states, Budayaw is now in its fifth edition. This year’s festival will feature a series of performances, capacity-building programs highlighting biocultural governance, and cultural tours designed to promote mutual understanding and collaboration among the BIMP-EAGA countries.

As part of the festival, participants are invited to join various creative and cultural workshops facilitated by esteemed artists and cultural practitioners.

My task was to look at the interface of culture and cinema. I had to look for a handle-a key concept with which I can approach the subject matter. There was, I remember, the book by James Clifford titled Writing Cultures: The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography. In one of its chapters, I read Vincent Crapanzano and he was saying how ‘the ethnographer is a little like Hermes: a messenger who, given methodologies for uncovering the masked, the latent, the unconscious, may even obtain his message through stealth. He presents languages, cultures and societies in all their opacity, their foreignness, their meaninglessness; then like the magician, the hermeneut, Hermes himself, he clarifies the opaque, renders the foreign familiar, and gives meaning to the meaningless. He decodes the message. He interprets.’

In this workshop, two key concepts shall be operating: the concept of culture and the technology of cinema.

Under culture, we are looking at the methodology of ethnography, where the anthropologist or the outsider gets inside the society. The process is not simple and is characterized by a dialogic relationship. We are always interacting with other people and with the other elements in the community. The relationship is also multivocalic, meaning, there are many sounds involved in our interaction with other elements in the society. The languages in the form of songs and dances and literatures, for example, are ways in which we enter a society.

For this particular workshop, we want to engage with the technologies of arts by way of this form called cinema. Cinema has evolved from merely imaging to the birth of the talkies or the advent of sound. Where before cinema was seen as entertainment, it went on to become the major narrative of the histories to a point where cultural workers began to ask if cinema was not only dictating the story of the period but influencing the mores of the times, the morality of the people around.

Even at this point, we are always asking the question about the impact of cinema or movies on the morality or conduct of the people around.

It cannot be denied that in academic settings, i.e. classrooms, films are taken seriously as forms of discourse. Films or motion pictures have ceased to be merely fun but become vehicles for truths or messaging; in other forms, cinema has become crucial tools for learning about identities, the self, and nations. The splendor of cinema has grown into other shapes and tools so that there are now films that are viewed as facts and not as fiction; at times, the line between the imaginary, the flights of fancy, and the fantastic are blurred to contain within them the real, the contentious, the historical and total social facts.

In this workshop, I decided to focus on two short films. One was by Sheron Dayoc and its title is Angan-Angan or Dreams; the other was Elvert Bañares’ Sa Paglupad ka Banog or The Flight of the Hawk.

In the short film Angan-Angan, Dayoc has placed at the center the mute character of a girl named Satra. She is from the Yakan community.

As with any film criticism or film education engagement, so much depends on the composition of the audience. For that afternoon, a majority of the audience was Indonesians. First off, they responded to the title as it was familiar to them. The shock of recognition was a good entry point for the audience.

As the story unfolded, it was then surfaced among the participants of the workshop that the gender of the main character and her being mute were significant elements in the narrative of the film. That the fact of being mute enabled the audience to supply the language of the girl.

The second film examines the epic of the Panay Bukidnon. Dense and rich in treatment, the film by Elvert Bañares looks into the epic as told first by the grandfather. The story materializes before our own eyes as the cinema visualizes the story of the ancient heroes. Toward the end, the dance is performed by the members of the community as the heroes of the epic watch over the performance, a testament how through the years culture keeps alive not only the traditions but also the people that embody said practices.

At the end of the two films, the crucial question was to examine to what degree is the human person autonomous of culture.

We are also asked to look into the task of the arts, which in this case is one of intervention. The film as technology allows man or society to intercede, to mediate between man and nature and culture.