An interesting inquest looms

No less than the Senate’s feathers have been ruffled and they are now reacting to what has turned out to be more than just coffee shop talk regarding the hemorrhaging of Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. (Philcomsat) and the Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corp. (POTC).

The feisty Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, known for her explosive filibusters and debates on the Senate floor, was obviously piqued by the public disclosure of erstwhile profitable corporations going to the sewers in just a few years.

Even at the height of the controversies dogging these two companies, when the leadership was hotly contested (not to mention the rightful ownership of shares) in the late 90’s, Philcomsat reported revenues upwards of P200 million, closer to P300 million in fact, just before the infamous take-over. The following year, however, these two corporations reversed themselves drastically to reveal a net loss of almost P72 million. The somersault in its financial ledgers is news even to hard-nosed businessmen used to such volatile figures. The smaller shareholders of both companies can only whimper and groan from the sidelines over this flip-flop.

Now that Sen. Miriam Santiago has been sufficiently miffed, she vows to look into the matter more intently to find out if the newly-installed leadership with a certain Atty. Victor Africa on the reins, which if you were going to believe the loud talk among the caffeine addicts, reportedly took over by way of dubious means, has the gumption to run large and potentially profitable (read hugely profitable) companies such as these. After all, the Philippine government has the largest stake in these companies, and someone has to stand up for Juan de la Cruz or for Mang Pandoy. Are we just going to sit down and take whatever they dish out to us while these corporations bleed to death? If they argue that this is all temporary and expected of any corporation going through transition leadership, how long are they giving themselves to bounce back from the red? Isn’t five years of transition long enough to prove themselves capable?

The PCGG man who sits for the government in this intra-corporate dispute certainly has a champion in the gutsy lady senator who vows to get to the bottom of it. Now that’s talking.

The coffee shop buzz is getting louder and louder. With the feisty Senator on the warpath, we can look forward to a very interesting showdown.

Bring them on

The foreign performing artists are still streaming in. The British singing sensation of the early 60’s, Herman’s Hermits, are performing at the Araneta Coliseum. Santana, Ricky Smith and Sergio Mendez and Brazil 66 of Mas Que Nada fame are also coming. Sergio Mendez is already in town and his fans can’t wait to hear his old familiar hits like Never Gonna to Let You Go, etc. The enduring star that brought the Brazilian beat into the mainstream four decades ago keeps popping up when nobody was looking, and just when everybody thought he had faded away, he comes up with another brilliant album. Such boundless energy. And to think that he started his career 45 years ago, in 1961.

The fact that these artists fearlessly come to our shores now can only mean one thing – the notoriety we gained over the last decade for the deteriorating peace and order in the country is fast fading. No matter that these artists are aging – they are still fantastic vocalists in their own right. I thoroughly enjoyed Andy Williams who regaled us with his pure golden voice. Not much of a performer, music lovers still swooned over the effortless vocals, and it was amazing how he could still hit those chords without a snitch and sail through Moon River smooth as silk. It was pure delight for me.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the Lettermen who were individually and collectively excellent singers. They are good performers too and had a good rapport with the audience.

Congratulations to the management of Araneta Coliseum for maintaining their facilities in tip-top condition. These artists who have been used to the best audio facilities in the US will not risk their name for faulty or sub-standard venues, and the Big Dome always rises up to the occasion. Of course, our congratulations too to the concert producers who bring in these wonderful talents. The most note-worthy of these concert producers are Steve O’neal (a.k.a. Danny Samonte), Renen de Guia of Ovations Production, Viva Entertainment and the management of the Big Dome itself.

Skill and infinite patience equals more than a million pesos

Watch out for the Main Event of the Philippine Poker Tour on April 29 and 30 at the Airport Casino Filipino in Parañaque.

So far, this is the biggest and most ambitious poker tournament thus far organized in the country. And I’ll always have my brother, Rey Gamboa’s determination and dedication to the game for its undoubted successful staging. There are already 37 assured seats in this tournament, all winners of the satellite tournaments earlier held. Poker players from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are expected to congregate for this huge event. In the south, Cebu seems to be the most active in the poker scene, and has contributed quite a number of winners in the satellite tourneys to qualify for the Main Event. Just recently, the Cebu Players Club conducted another poker tournament for the benefit of the landslide victims of neighboring Leyte. This was held at the Rajah Park Hotel, and the winners of this tournament, of course, will earn seats in the Main Event.

But for those who have not won, or joined in the previous satellite tournaments to qualify for a seat in the Main Event, you may opt to pay the full tournament fee for this exciting event of the Philippine Poker Tour. Visit their website at www.PhilippinePokerTour.com or call Cindy who is a familiar face and voice to all Philippine Poker Club members at 817-9092.

Mabuhay! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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