Frequent ship breakdowns

Passengers and cargo clients of this shipping company are reportedly complaining of frequent breakdowns, with problems compounded by the recent cancellation of a vessel’s trips for the next four months due to a damaged crankshaft. The part has to be bought from Japan and could take as much as a year and a half to install if things don’t go well. Cargo shippers are now scrambling to get available slots for their cargo with other shipping companies since the firm has not offered them any alternative solution. Passengers, on the other hand, are understandably thankful that the breakdown did not happen while they were at sea, more so if the weather had been stormy. The company should really look into maintaining their ships better, remarked one passenger who had booked passage earlier only to learn of the cancellation while he was already at the pier. Complaints against this company had been mounting from the time it was resurrected some three years ago, with observers noting that despite the ban on the importation of antiquated ships exceeding the 20-year age limit, this resurrected company was allegedly still able to bring in antiquated vessels, some of which have been called "floating coffins," with lack of maintenance attributed as a major factor in the breakdowns. Maritime authorities should not wait for another disaster before they look into these problems.

No ‘wow’ factor at Nayong Pilipino

Several weeks ago, an Eye-spy met up with a balikbayan friend who was on his way back to the United States. Not wanting to be accused of practicing "Filipino time," the Eye-Spy arrived minutes ahead at the Nayong Filipino, the designated meeting place. Imagine his surprise to discover that the country’s only cultural park was virtually empty on a Sunday. At the administration building, there was reportedly no decent toilet. Workers directed the informant to a place past where the bicycles-for-hire area is located. Needless to say, the informant didn’t see any "Wow" factor in what was supposed to be a famous landmark where tourists can get a glimpse of the country’s rich natural and cultural heritage.

The favorite

The Spy-ring is abuzz with rumors about the so-called favorite lady in a special economic zone who has many profitable projects particularly an annual night market during the holiday season. According to sources, millions can be earned from this annual night bazaar and the money is expected to continue this coming holiday season, with food stalls, dry goods merchandise and even carnival rides taking part in this lucrative project. This favorite has a lot of designations in the eco-zone, among them as head of research and development (R&D). She is supposedly riding on the coat tails of her influential boss who, just like her, holds different positions. She reportedly gets a lot of perks from the boss like a brand new car plus a hefty representation account that has yet to be audited. The boss’s wife does not stay in the eco-zone and she’s not giving any indication at all if she knows the rumors about this woman and her husband. It looks like aside from R&D, this woman is also good at giving the boss a lot of R&R — much to the demoralization of the other employees at this free trade zone.

RCM’s ‘Almost World Famous’ Music Committee

Move over, UP Madrigal Singers! The Music Committee of the Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) will soon take the concert stage by storm, and soon everyone will be convinced that they’re the next big thing to hit the music scene. Composed of some 40 members of the Rotary Club of Manila, the first Rotary Club in Asia, the RCM Music Committee will hold a concert titled "The Rotary Club of Manila Goes Centerstage: A Concert of Love and Service" on Jan. 19, 2007 at the Meralco Theater. Staking his reputation is RCM past president Archit Bartolome who has volunteered to be the business manager for the concert, with famous UP music professor, composer and director Ed Manguiat as the concert’s musical director. While the rest of the world may not have had the privilege of listening to the RCM Music Committee yet, those in the know are looking forward to hearing the group, led by its chairman and past RCM president Babes Reyes, perform their repertoire of old and new favorites. To prepare, the singers are seriously practicing every Monday and Thursday, and it will not be surprising if pretty soon, they will not only be singing in the august meeting halls of the Rotary Club of Manila, but in world-renowned concert stages as well.

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