Makisig in, Solar out

With its unique programs, Makisig Network is certain to attract a lot of viewers next year, especially after getting the slot of Solar Sports in Skycable. This development is expected to launch a new “war” among content providers as far as offerings are concerned. What is good about Makisig’s suite of offerings is that it is focused on men’s interests and has zeroed in on the Filipino male’s psyche.

For Skycable, the entry of Makisig means  it could now woo more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to subscribe to its sister firm—The Filipino Channel. OFWs are always hungry for news and other interesting tidbits of about their homeland, but more so when these are complemented by other features like horseracing, business, gaming, entertainment and sports, which Makisig has handsomely packaged.

“The programs will be therapeutic and entertaining,” said Makisig president Jake Maderazo, who was among the programming trailblazers at ABS-CBN radio and TV. Maderazo hit upon the idea of coming up with a content provider for cable firms in one of his brainstorming sessions with Hermie Esguerra, chairman and CEO of the company. Both men are deep into horseracing; they have a stable of winning horses.

Horseracing has vaulted into the nation’s consciousness with its five-day-per-week run; previously races were only on weekends. Most of OFWs now stationed in the Americas, Europe and even in other Asian countries are known to have, at one time or another, enjoyed the Sta. Ana or San Lazaro races. The Filipino male’s known love for horseracing inspired Makisig in its positioning strategy. Makisig seeks to provide an expanded perspective of the horseracing industry in the Philippines through shows like Racing Roundtable, Largabista, King of Sports, Ensayo at Trangko, The Finish Line, Racing Live and Inside Racing.

Definitely, these shows would generate that rare excitement that produces a dopamine rush in the Filipino viewers, especially those in foreign lands, something that cannot be said of the programs provided by Solar Sports.

Also on the menu are interesting talk shows of, among others, singing icon Rico J. Puno and Ariel Ureta on Filipino sexuality, spirituality and Filipino hobbies, among other topics. Altogether, these show should make Makisig an undisputed winner.

OFWs’ peso problem

Overseas Filipino workers continue to get a whacking with the relentless surge of the peso vis-à-vis the US dollar, despite the efforts of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). According to reports, the BSP intervened during the last trading day before the lengthy holiday, buying about $150 million in the Philippine Dealing System. However, the BSP was unable to prevent the continued rise of the peso; it’s currently P43.85 to the US dollar. The situation has become so desperate for OFWs and their families that some of them have, in fact, announced plans for a remittance boycott.

The overseas workers are getting it from both sides. Even as the peso equivalent of their dollar earnings is getting lower, the prices of commodities are rising.  A Bangko Sentral survey has shown that OFW families spend 90 percent of the remittances in food and other prime goods as well as other household needs such as cooking gas. This can only mean that OFW families must scrimp some more and forget about other major expenditures in the meantime.

In another BSP survey that is consistent with polls from economists, consumers believe the peso-dollar rate is headed toward the P42-$1 rate. About 19 percent of consumers polled by BSP as of September believe that the peso will continue to surge against the dollar, surpassing the 1.1-percent improvement in June.

To soften the impact of the continued appreciation of the peso and further help OFWs, the government must try to create a greater demand for the increased dollar remittances. But this would be a tough task for the country’s economic managers as the inflow of dollars is even seen to double by 2010—to above $20 billion, as per estimates of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. One other recourse being floated by industry groups hurt by the strengthening peso is for the government to stop borrowing in dollars and instead concentrate on peso loans.

Exporters, mostly small and medium firms, are up in arms, too, over the inability of the government to stabilize the peso-dollar rate. Majority of Christmas décor exporters, for instance, are losing a lot of money, and they fear it’s just a matter of time before they finally throw in the towel. The same is true with other exporters whose operating costs cannot be sustained by the prevailing peso-dollar rate. By next year, we have to expect the rise in unemployment numbers because of this.

E-mail:hugagni@yahoo.com

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Market Files: Makisig in, Solar out

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