Pretty ‘happy’ woman

Our top Ear-spy heard the news that the divorce of Andres Soriano III from his wife Vicky is final. She will get a hefty settlement of over P1-billion or approximately $20-million. The couple has been separated over a year ago when he found out that she has been having an affair. All is well that ends well. We wish them happiness as they both go their own ways. One thing is for sure, there is one pretty happy woman free nowadays and very wealthy indeed.

Airships and pre-paid cards

Who would think that blimps and pre-paid cards work hand-in-hand? Our telecom Ear-spy reported that the Florida-based GlobeTel Communications Corp. is steadily establishing itself as a full-service international telecommunications firm by offering a full array of communications services in the world’s markets. It doesn’t compete with local telcos. It complements them. Not to be confused with Globe Telecom, GlobeTel is an IP-solutions/applications-based firm that provides strategic advantages to commodity telecommunications-based products such as voice termination,prepaid calling cards, stored value debit cards through the deployment of software and IP platforms. A significant customer service from GlobeTel is the Mastercard Debit Card Program, which offers stored value services such as prepaid calling, money remittances and other non-telephony merchant services. Its Stored Value Program (SVP) has several features and services exclusively designed for the Filipino market. Globetel also acquired Sanswire Technologies, Inc. Sanswire’s National Wireless Broadband Network project, which uses high-altitude airships called Stratellites, will be used to provide wireless voice, video, and data services. This Stratellite (similar to a satellite, but is stationed in the stratosphere rather than in orbit) will allow subscribers to easily communicate in "both directions" using readily available wireless devices.

Our sick shipping industry (Part 2)

To continue from last this, this firm would do well to pray to the saints for intercession because it’s really drowning in its troubles. It’s the same one that did a little creative accounting on its books (thus setting the SEC sniffing its way) and is now facing a lawsuit from a Japanese-owned ship repair and dry docking facility for non-payment of obligations to the tune of P110 million. According to Ear-spy Popeye, suppliers and creditors are wising up to this firm’s tactics of borrowing from one creditor to payoff outstanding debts from another, with promises of new investors coming in. Truth to tell, the shipping firm has been on credit suspension and de facto rehab for some time now. It has not paid fuel companies, truckers, stevedoring companies, shipyards, etc... the list goes on. The firm claimed that everything is normal and trip schedules continue as usual. How that is possible when several of its ships have been tied up because it has no money for repairs and spare parts has raised skeptical eyebrows from industry watchers. In fact, this company is in so much trouble, watchers have likened it to a patient in death-rattle at the ICU.

While Donald works, a swan song for Daisy

Our broadcast industry Eye-spy reportedly saw this popular media personality with an old flame in an out-of-town tryst several weeks ago. Witnesses wouldn’t have been surprised if not for the fact that she has a much-publicized romance with an equally-popular political personality. Those who know the couple are shaking their heads in disbelief. It’s a case of Daisy singing a swan song in one pond while Donald is waddling his way to the big Pond by the Pasig.

Spy tidbiz: Free Bocelli concert

US Embassy staffers were green with envy a few weeks ago after the Andrea Bocelli concert. Our hotel Ear-spy informed us that an embassy employee was billeted in the room beside the famous tenor. On the afternoon of the concert, the embassy man enjoyed a free concert while Bocelli practiced in his room. Sometimes, it pays to just stay in your room instead of lounging by the pool.

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