ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema and GMA Pictures are reaping the success of “Hello, Love, Again,” the much-awaited sequel of top-grossing film “Hello, Love, Goodbye.”
The movie starring seasoned actors Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards debuted at No. 8 in the US box office after raking in $2.4 million.
Locally, it also made history by grossing P85 million on opening day, a record for a Filipino film. Ticket sales nearly tripled in its three days of showing, reaching P245 million in total.
The film, which not only tackles the love story of couple Joy and Ethan, but also the struggles of overseas Filipino workers, is currently showing in 1,000 cinemas across the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Guam and Saipan.
Veteran director Cathy Garcia-Sampana helmed the film, which is also set to premier in Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle East, Cambodia and Hong Kong this month. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
Skin care by St. Luke’s
Amid its ongoing multibillion-peso expansion this year, St. Luke’s Medical Center has launched its newly improved dermatology center in its Quezon City branch, expanding and upgrading the suite of skin care treatment and services in its facility.
The medical institution touts that “The Skin Center by St. Luke’s” will provide “unique” skin care experience that ensures holistic treatment by highly skilled and board-certified dermatologists.
“The center is a testament to St. Luke’s commitment to skin health. We are excited to usher in a new era of medical and aesthetic dermatology at our esteemed institution and provide quality care for our patients,” said Dr. Cynthia Tan, head of dermatology department at St. Luke’s Quezon City’.
The offerings include laser and energy-based device services, such as pigment and tattoo removal, hair removal, nonablative skin rejuvenation, fractional and ablative skin resurfacing, as well as facial, body sculpting and skin tightening. The suite also includes photodermatology as a treatment option for psoriasis, and vitiligo, Mohs micrographic surgery for precise removal of skin cancers, microscopic skin biopsy reading.
The facility also offers hair care services, including treatments for hair growth disorders and hair transplant. —Alden M. Monzon
More meat for Pinoys
The Philippines will be able to source meat products from four more countries before the year ends, which can help augment domestic supply as the country tends to consume more food during holidays.
An industry source intimated that Sweden, Portugal, India and Russia have secured an accreditation from the government to export meat to the country later this month.
Brazil is currently the country’s top source of meat, followed by the United States and Spain.
Generally, the Philippines relies on importation as local production is insufficient to meet the growing demand for food items.
The country has increasingly relied on importation over the past years due to the continued prevalence of African swine fever, which has decimated the hog population since the first outbreak in 2019.
The Department of Agriculture deploys personnel to an applicant country to conduct site inspection and validate submissions. It had previously sent such an inspection team to rigorously inspect the documents and facilities of eight countries: Uruguay, India, Argentina, Russia, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and the United States. —Jordeene B. Lagare
Brain drain for nuclear dream?
While Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) scrambles to enlist nuclear engineers, the government seems inclined to not just produce but also export these talents to bigger economies.
The firing up of nuclear energy to the Philippines’ power generation mix may not happen until the early 2030s, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) plans to give it a boost through the development of nuclear professionals.
Tesda chief Jose Francisco Benitez vowed that the agency would build a workforce capable of supporting the nuclear supply chain—from safety, and operations, to regulatory compliance and emergency readiness.
However, an energy official floated the possibility of also deploying some of these trained local workers abroad.
“Once we have developed a pool of skilled nuclear professionals in the Philippines, we can also send them to Canada to help meet the growing demand for workers in Canada’s expanding nuclear sector,” Energy Undersecretary Sharon Garin said.
Her remarks came as the Philippines gathered global nuclear leaders in Metro Manila last week.
With hefty salaries and far, far better benefits offered in foreign markets, will Filipino professionals stay? Or will the country suffer another talent gap? —Lisbet K. Esmael