RP’s 300 influencers

Forget beer sales as a quick indicator of economic growth. Beer sales can be front loaded.

The Ateneo School of Economics headed by former National Economic Development Authority director-general Cielito Habito is on the look out for alternative indicators.

Failing that, Ciel Habito can always go back to looking at electricity sales.

By the way, the guy who invited Mr. Habito (UP/Harvard) to join Ateneo is board of trustees chairman Octavio Espiritu.

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Interesting perspective 1: Senator Manuel Villar believes the percent of the national budget lost to corruption (that’s on the expenditure side) is a drop in the bucket to the percent lost to people not paying their taxes (that’s) on the revenue side.

In both cases, there is theft involved.

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Interesting perspective 2: "The Asian Banker" editor-in-chief Emmanuel Daniel believes there are 300 influencers in every country, regardless of whether the country is developed or emerging, big or small.

Mr. Daniel, who was in town early this week to give a talk to bankers organized by Oracle Phils., has some tips on how to spot these influencers.

One, scan through the Philippine versions of the "Tatler" and look at the names of the people attending parties, particularly the charity events. In a group photo, 60 percent would be influencers and the balance 40 percent would be pretenders or satellites of the influencers.

Two, an influencer is not necessarily rich or very smart. What matters is who you know–in short, your connections. Getting in is pretty much like how you accumulate money: you either inherit it, marry it, or earn it.

Three, an influencer is not limited to those in business or politics. There are influencers who are chefs, artists, and professors.

Remember that influencers hang out with each other. An influencer whose business is in trouble is sure to get loads of help from other influencers.

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Bank notes 1: Dangal ng Lipi Foundation president Remedios Macalincag called to clarify that Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. president Antonio Abacan, Jr. is a member and has chosen not to be a director or officer of the foundation committed to help Bulacan’s economic growth.

Understandable. You see, Metrobank holds its senior management meetings from five onwards in the afternoon of the working week and on Saturdays, the time the foundation’s board normally holds its meetings.

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Bank notes 2: The trophy the Development Bank of the Philippines received as one of the country’s best employers is proudly displayed in the lobby of the main office.

Understandable. DBP wasn’t even in the radar screen in 2001 or before Simon Paterno came on board as president.