Going after Handy Andy

The most eligible bachelor today is former San Miguel Corp. chairman, sports yachtsman and multi-billionaire Andres Soriano III. Since his wife Vicky went with another man, he left for the United States to lick his wounds. Vicky eventually moved to an apartment in Makati. Today, numerous women, mostly separated matrons, are actually eyeing Andresito and lining up to try their luck on having Andy – handy. Our ear-spies heard his wife wants him back, but Andresito apparently has made up his mind, although he’s totally devastated.

Criminals Go Sporty

According to our ear-spies, a renowned badminton court in Pasong Tamo, Makati was held up by an armed group of criminals just last week. According to our eye-spies, as some of the regular players and customers were preparing to play (most of whom are top-level executives, managers and employees from Makati firms), the armed group began blocking the entrance and exits of the badminton court and started pilfering cellphones, money, jewelry, expensive badminton rackets and other valuable items. According to our spyring, a big holdup syndicate is now targeting badminton courts, planning out robberies and holdup scenarios at night and even in broad daylight. Next stop, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Quezon City courts. Obviously, in a well-enclosed badminton court, they have a "captured audience." A number of Makati executives are now seeking the help of the League of Mayors to increase police visibility and security within the areas where badminton courts are located.

FPJ: Shaking The Great Divide

With the announcement of FPJ that he will run in 2004 came an even bigger problem. According to our ear-spies, in most families today, children are having shouting bouts with their parents on the issue of whether they should vote for FPJ or not. People apparently have become emotional about the issue, especially the youth, which are very idealistic. Judging from the Mare & Pare debate program on television – the debate between businessman Ronnie Concepcion and an unknown FPJ supporter – the "haves" and the "have-nots" now are more clearly divided. During the program, Ronnie commented that it cannot be all charisma; at least, a minimum of intelligence is required to be president. The FPJ supporter emotionally reacted, saying "Yes, we are not intelligent. That’s the reason why we sacrifice abroad as OFWs to send dollars back to the country while you rich people make money and send dollars away!" Ronnie Concepcion was tongue-tied.

Positive Voices

According to our ear-spies, businessman Ricky Delgado, former proprietor of telecommunications firm ISLACOM, has just acquired a Voice Over IP (VOIP) firm that is said to offer more competitive rates for calls to the United States. The deal was closed with his German partners when the team gave the VOIP entrepreneurs an offer they can’t refuse. At the same time, a former Department of Transportation and Communications Assistant Secretary during Erap’s time was in the country recently to pitch for a new multi-million dollar communications satellite project. Now, who’s saying there are no investments coming in the country?

Bad Assumption

With all the criticism GMA is getting from civil society and left-leaning groups, it’s but natural for her to seek the support of her friends, especially now that elections is just around the bend. As a strategy, she called her friends from Assumption College to a meeting where they were supposed to discuss her plans and platform for 2004. According to our ear-spies, it turned out to be a bad assumption because on the day of the scheduled meeting last week, only three attended. It appears some of her close supporters are now jumping ship, with former Finance Secretary Lito Camacho leading the exodus. According to our Palace ear-spies, even those who are continually beside GMA at this very moment - like the infamous presidential adviser – are just bidding their time, waiting for the right moment to break their chains and support another candidate. It only goes to show that in politics, real friends are a rarity.

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