Reinventing socialized housing

Hans Cruyff, our Man from Vollendam, chanced upon a house blessing yesterday. Little did he know that it was the blessing of Filipino builder-inventor Gary Vazquez’s model of a pre-fabricated two-story house. It’s an original Filipino idea with a Filipino attitude behind it: Dignity in every home. One look at the pre-fab house and you’ll know Gary has given the word "social" in socialized housing a higher, more holy meaning. It wasn’t surprising at all to see Vice President Noli de Castro, the new housing czar, mingling with builders such as Gary and homeowners association bigwigs. Our Spy-ring figured that government is beginning to see the need for better socialized housing and infrastructure potentials for the Filipino family, especially in a time of fiscal crisis. "We have to act fast. Other Asian countries are already getting Gary to build their homes," observed Hans between mouthfuls of smoked eel from his hometown. The Filipino family could only weather any economic storm as long as they have a decent roof over their heads and a wall strong enough to withstand the winds. If government is really willing to give up the pork barrel, then they should refocus it through a massive socialized housing project. Austerity is good, but you will never go wrong with dignity. From a typically practical Dutchman, that couldn’t be truer.

The insider

Our real estate Spy-ring got wind of this character’s unscrupulous practice of using inside information to enrich himself. Despite being cash strapped, this former shipping great has been allegedly gobbling up vast tracts of land in a coastal town in the South. Those in the know are not surprised because this land gobbler sits in the board of a subsidiary company of a top real estate developer, and is thus aware of the company’s development plans in the said coastal town. He even managed to convince the board of a school, which he chairs, into buying a piece of property in – you guessed it – the coastal town. This character has been covering up his tracks by letting his trusted brother-in-law do the buying for him. Industry watchers are wondering what his Iberian real estate big bosses will do when they find out what this has-been has been up to.

Body tug-of-war

Observers can only shake their heads at the series of family "tug-of-wars" besetting the business community, this time involving a construction magnate. In what can only be termed as a bizarre twist, the children of the magnate by his first wife are petitioning the courts to keep the corpse and arrange for the funeral rites of the old man – even while the old man is still alive. The children by the first wife apparently want their old man buried according to Catholic rites and beside their mother’s grave at the family mausoleum. The second wife, meanwhile, is opting for cremation, which is also what the youngest son of the magnate by his first wife wants. Because of such developments, wags are saying they wouldn’t be surprised if the old man suddenly wakes up from his state of coma to give the family a well-deserved tongue-lashing.

Spy tidbiz: Different beso-beso for gma

The Palace Eye-spy disclosed that the President has been conscientiously practicing three times a week for her Assumption class dance presentation at their October ruby celebration. In fact, she will be attending practices at the San Lorenzo campus. Our Assumption Convent Spy-ring whispered that the song for the dance is Tom Jones‚ "Kiss." From the Old Girls, an altogether different and healthier beso-beso.

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