Breaktime
Filipino wine makers in Napa
By Conrado Banal III
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:24:00 07/22/2008
Oh no, not again!
Not known to many, our beloved state-owned near-monopoly electricity producer National Power Corp., or Napocor, is asking the Energy Regulatory Commission, or ERC, for an increase in its basic rate by P0.3685 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
All right, so the oil firms cut the price of diesel fuel by P1.50 per liter, reportedly in response to the request of the Grandma at the Palace.
All along, everybody thought that the Grandma wanted to reduce our power rates, which were only the second highest in all of Asia, and that was the reason she led the attack against the Lopez group’s Manila Electric Co., or Meralco.
So, what the government’s right hand gives out, the left hand takes back, is that it? You see, Meralco buys at least 45 percent of its electricity from Napocor.
On top of Meralco’s existing supply contracts with Napocor, it buys more power from Napocor through the wholesale electricity spot market, or WESM.
Our info is that, due to Napocor’s forthcoming rate hike, we here in the capital region will have to bear with an electricity rate increase of about 16 centavos per kwh.
* * *
And how does Napocor explain the increase? Its press releases blame the sale of its three power plants in Luzon.
I do not know if you can believe that, but the three plants in the Napocor releases were the 112-megawatt Pantabangan-Masiway hydroelectric power plant, the 36-MW Magat hydroelectric power plant, and the 600-MW Masinloc coal-fired plant.
Supposedly, at least according to the releases, Napocor could generate relatively cheaper power in those plants.
I am not sure what Napocor is trying to imply. Napocor has to stop selling its other power plants, which is the main thrust of this administration’s privatization program, so that Napocor will not ask for power rate increases in the future, is that it?
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If I remember correctly, the Napocor pronouncements run smack against the position of the House energy committee, chaired by Representative Mikey Arroyo, who is the son of the Grandma at the Palace.
Mikey Arroyo declared that delaying the privatization of Napocor plants, supposedly the main target of the move to amend the power reform law called EPIRA, would not be the way to reduce electricity rates.
It is the surest way to a rise in rates. And Napocor is asking for a rate increase right now, isn’t it?
* * *
According to news reports, the blame lays squarely on the surge in the price of fuels, particularly coal which comprise more than 30 percent of Luzon’s power requirements.
Napocor does not have a good track record in fuel purchases, particularly coal. Let me rephrase that: Napocor has a very bad record.
Just recently, for instance, Napocor declared—again—a failed bidding for coal supply to power its plants.
Soon, we may suffer another artificial (translation: “fake”) power shortage because of insufficient supply of coal. In effect, it should force Napocor to accept higher priced coal supplies. You know, the usual modus operandi.
Let me just remind you that the Napocor mafia has been making a killing in the coal supply contracts. Some unknown corporation called Transpacific Consolidated Resources Inc. recently got a Napocor award for a coal supply contract worth almost P1 billion.
Two of the company’s incorporators were named Ducut. What is the name again of the new chairman of the ERC?
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Two Filipinos are making waves in Napa Valley, the wine producing region in California.
They are blue-blooded Ilocanos Lawrence Cortez (from Cagayan Valley) and Romel Rivera (from La Union province), who produce “great reds” under the label “Corte Riva.”
Corte Riva—derived from their family names—was recently featured in the authoritative magazine Wine Spectator, describing the Filipino duo to be the “rising stars in the world of winemaking.”
Corte Riva Merlot is priced at $45 per bottle and Corte Riva Cabernet Sauvignon, at $60.
From what I have gathered, the wines are available only at upscale establishments in California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Nevada.
The Filipino team has been picking up awards for their wine. In 2003, Corte Riva’s first batch of red wines (only 350 cases of 2001 Merlot), was named “Top Red of the Year” by Hi-Time Wine Cellars.
In 2004, its 600 cases of 2002 Merlot garnered a score of 91 from Wine Spectator. Another 600 cases of 2003 Merlot got a score of 92 from Wine Advocate.
To think, both Cortez and Rivera started working in the vineyards of Napa only as farm hands some 25 years ago, when they set foot on the United States.
Now if you want to know their secret, they will easily tell you: It is hard work. There is no such thing as a shortcut to success.
Previous columns:
Melting of the mind - 07/15/2008
Race to the finest - 06/24/2008
Horse raisin - 6/17/2008
Horse raisin - 17/06/2008
What’s up, duck? - 06/10/2008
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