Trouble in Makati

The other Sunday, the fiesta celebration in Barangay Guadalupe Viejo in Makati was marred by a violent incident which injured several people including a 12-year-old boy and a 74-year-old woman. According to reports, the revelry was ongoing when a group of men started a commotion and tried to barge into the tent of mayoralty candidate Erwin “Win” Genuino (son of PAGCOR chair Efraim Genuino) who was with several showbiz celebrities at the time.

A number of witnesses claimed that the trouble was allegedly instigated by a certain Mario Hechanova, resulting in a melee that left several bystanders hurt and wounded as rocks and empty bottles began to rain. Genuino and his guest were forced to abandon the area to escape the onslaught, with several of the candidate’s security detail getting bloodied by head wounds.

Considering the heated atmosphere in Makati, the violent incident naturally triggered suspicions that it may have been politically motivated – although several sources say it would be difficult to pinpoint just who exactly instigated the melee. Supporters of Erwin Genuino (who is running under the Bigkis Pinoy party) claim the culprits are from the rival camp of city councilor and mayoral candidate Junjun Binay – who in turn point to the followers of incumbent vice mayor Ernesto Mercado as the group that might have been responsible for the violence.

It can be recalled that Mercado had been a longtime ally of Makati mayor Jojo Binay but they parted ways after Mercado decided to run against Binay’s son, Junjun, for the position of mayor. The acrimony between Mercado and the Binays intensified when the former engineered the reorganization of the city council which ousted Junjun as majority leader and stripped him of chairmanships in several committees. Junjun consequently filed a petition before the Makati Regional Trial Court to nullify the reorganization.

Aside from Genuino, Binay and Mercado, two other candidates vying for the position of Makati Mayor are former congressman Agapito “Butz” Aquino and Edmundo Tagalog – so you can just imagine the confusion that can happen when rival political factions are all present during fiestas and other community events.  

The bottom line, however, is that the Makati police should not allow a repeat of the violent incident such as the one that spoiled the celebrations in Guadalupe Viejo. Not only does it send very wrong signals to constituents and investors, it also mars the image of Makati as a premier city.

Hopefully, the “Walk for Peace” and the peace covenant signed by all the mayoralty bets last week would help defuse the tension and prevent more trouble from erupting in Makati.

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A (Red) Bull-ish year

Feng shui experts are optimistic that the Year of the Tiger will be a very good one that will usher in a new cycle of “awakening.” Revelers all over the world welcomed the Chinese New Year with anticipation that the business climate will be much better, taking into mind feng shui experts’ advice to embrace 2010 without any fear. As a matter of fact, more opportunities are expected to create wealth, with companies projected to recoup their losses and post better growth than last year.

It looks like this positive forecast could prove true for popular energy drink Red Bull as it anticipates a bullish year with its new exclusive distributor Maryland Distributors Inc. or MDI. The energy drink is a favorite not only among sports people but even ordinary employees who say they get an extra boost in their performance especially during particularly tiring or stressful situations.

Thailand-based company TC Pharmaceutical Industries, the manufacturer of the leading energy drink, appointed MDI as its exclusive importer and distributor in the Philippines during formal ceremonies held in Bangkok last year. TCPI also applied for the cancellation of the Bureau of Food and Drugs certificate of product registration held by its previous distributor Energy Food and Drinks Inc. (EFDI) over the latter’s alleged failure to make timely payments for importation of product shipments.

Sources claim EFDI has been in deep financial trouble and is allegedly banned by the Ad Board over some unpaid accounts. Several documents also disclosed that EFDI had to enter into a memorandum of agreement with MDI to settle its debt which amounted to more than P90 million, with an outstanding balance at approximately P16 million to date.

Meanwhile, MDI’s appointment is expected to boost Red Bull’s share in the Philippine market with the company’s strategic distribution network that would make the brand even more recognizable to Filipino consumers. Maryland is also poised to re-launch the product with new and exciting activities backed by aggressive marketing plans – portending “healthier” and more vigorous competition among existing energy drinks in the country today.

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