BIZ BUZZ: Fernandes on a high
MANILA, Philippines – Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor and Steward of the AirAsia Group, has been on cloud 9 for some days now.
After all, AirAsia Bhd has just signed a landmark agreement with Airbus valued at $12.25 billion covering 50 A321XLRs with rights for 20 A321XLRs, with the first aircraft scheduled to be delivered in 2028.
With this agreement, the airline takes a major step towards becoming “the world’s first low-cost narrow-body network carrier.”
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“We pioneered low-cost travel in Asia—now, we are taking it to the next level. AirAsia is on a transformative journey to become the world’s first low-cost network carrier. This is about exponential growth, connecting geographies beyond Asean, and making flying even more democratic,” Fernandes said in a statement.
“We gave people in Asean the opportunity to explore Asia—now we want the world to see Asean, and Asean to see the world. The A321XLR and A321LR are the game-changers enabling this vision, and we are proud to lead the charge in making our world smaller. We can’t wait to paint the skies even wider in red,” he added.
The Philippines will figure prominently in the expansion plans and Fernandes is scheduled to visit the Philippines for a long-delayed catch-up with partners here to discuss how to take AirAsia Philippines on the path of faster growth.
But Fernandes already said in a briefing last week that exciting times are indeed ahead for the Philippines.
“I’m coming to the Philippines. It’s long overdue. There’s lots to discuss … and I have a lot to say,” said Fernandes. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao
Sun Life gets the record
Sun Life Philippines has secured the Guinness World Records title for the largest display of solar powered lamps.
The record-breaking installation was unveiled last week at the National Museum of the Philippines, and is part of Circle of Light—Sun Life’s flagship program for its 130th anniversary in the Philippines.
The display features nearly 3,000 hand-built solar lamps arranged in a visual formation that symbolizes unity, hope and the light that communities can bring to one another, the company said.
“The idea of Circle of Light stemmed from our goal to mark our 130th anniversary with something meaningful and lasting,” Benedict Sison, CEO and Country Head of Sun Life Philippines, told Biz Buzz. “Instead of a traditional celebration, we wanted to create something that would leave a tangible impact on the communities we serve. Through the Circle of Light, we aim to reinforce our commitment to making lives brighter for generations to come,” he added.
The solar lamps were assembled by Sun Life employees, advisors, volunteers and community members.
The initiative also featured a collaboration with Odangputik Art Space, a community of potters, who shaped each lamp by hand.
The National Museum serves as the venue for the display, which will remain on public view from July 2 to July 9, 2025.
Check it out! —Tina Arceo-Dumlao
Medicines in your ‘suking tindahan?’
Well, not yet.
The Department of Trade (DTI) assured the public that the sale of over-the-counter medicines (OTC) in sari-sari stories was still being studied.
“This is only a proposal at this point—nothing has been finalized,” Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in a Facebook post.
“We are fully aware of the potential health risks associated with OTC drug products and the importance of ensuring their safe and responsible distribution,” Roque added.
The agency issued the statement as pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors floated the idea of offering medicines through neighborhood stores.
It all started from a now-deleted Facebook post from the DTI about a meeting with Customer First Distribution Inc. on expanding livelihood and health-care access through sari-sari stores.
Such a measure was seen as a way to create new income opportunities for microretailers while improving access to essential health products in communities.
The proposal, however, was immediately met with resistance.
Thus for now, the iconic neighborhood sari-sari store will stick to the basics, such as coffee, canned goods, condiments, personal care products, local snacks and treats, and stay away from medicines. —Jordeene B. Lagare INQ
