Reunion

The entire ground floor – that’s three rooms – of Funeraria Paz has been leased by Lucio Tan and his siblings for the six-day wake of their mother, 92-year-old Chua King Ha, that ends today.

Just as well, considering the number of people who came to extend their condolences – including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and fellow taipan, Henry Sy – and all those floral arrangements (one better and grander than the next which now decorate the lobby because there’s no more space inside) sent by the friends and business associates of the Tan siblings.

* * *

In a letter dated Nov. 13, Government Service Insurance System vice-president for public affairs Renato Santico writes: "This refers to your column entitled ‘A P10,000 emergency loan for GMA?’ published on page B-4 in the Nov. 13, 2003 issue of The Philippine STAR. You mentioned in your column that ‘president and general manager Winston Garcia has approved a P10,000 emergency loan to all members, whether they applied for one or not.’

"We would like to inform you and the many readers of your column that GSIS does not automatically grant emergency loans to all members. While all government employees – whether permanent, casual, or contractual – are qualified for the loan, only those who apply for an emergency loan can avail of it.

"It might also interest you that as Nov. 11, 2003, we have already granted some P8 billion in emergency loans to close to 800,000 members nationwide since we started accepting and processing applications last Oct. 13, 2003."

Here’s my reply. Apparently, Mr. Santico, your computers aren’t still working at 100-percent efficiency because some government employees, who are positive they have not applied for the loan program, have received notice that they are now get the money. Puzzled by the windfall but not stupid, they have happily accepted the generosity of Mr. Garcia and the GSIS for what it is. And yes, they know they have to repay the loan.

* * *

With Jose Mari Chan as a batchmate, it stands to reason that the Nov. 28 joint reunion of Ateneo de Manila University grade school class 1959, high school class 1963, and college class 1967 would center around a concert.

Sharing the stage with Mr. Chan, whose family is into sugar trading and hotels, are FABANS such as Biophil chairman Tito Osias and the Azanza brothers, Roman (who is very much involved in capital markets development) and Bing (who is a professor at the Asian Institute of Management).

Everybody knows, of course, that AIM president Roberto de Ocampo has a good place – and plays the classical guitar to boot.

Other markets expected to attend the reunion (and just possibly be convinced to sing) are United Coconut Planters Bank director Norberto Nazareno. Bankers Association of the Philippines executive director Leonilo Coronel; former Development Bank of the Philippines chairman and chief executive officer Alfredo Antonio; and former Equitable PCI Bank senior vice-president for corporate planning Elbert Zosa.