The high-end, Ayala-developed Anvaya Cove is supposed to be an exclusive up-market resort enclave with paradise-like features conducive to relaxation and leisurely activities that encourage close family bonding. The Zobels have in fact their own recreation homes at this high-end community and many retired foreigners married to Filipinas have also bought beach front properties in this premier Ayala development project.
Hailed as one of the “greenest and most sustainable residential projects” in the world, Anvaya Cove properties are reportedly selling for as much as P45 million on the average for a house and lot. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case with Julian Cohen, an American from California whose failed marriage with his Filipina wife apparently does not reflect the soothing nature of the surroundings. Cohen’s Filipina wife reportedly ran off with one of the security guards of Anvaya Cove, prompting him to put his property on the auction block, hoping to get at least P25 million. The best offer was for P12 million with businessman Vince Revilla submitting a bid of P10 million. The wife rejected the bid as too low, refusing to sign on the dotted line. Many foreigners who are married to Pinays are totally at their wives’ mercy since the Constitution bars foreigners from owning real estate. This situation is another good reason why the current outdated Constitution of this country needs to be amended if we want to attract foreign investments.
Strauss-Kahn’s management failure
Just when former International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn seems about to get off the hook on the sexual assault charges filed by a Sofitel New York maid last May, along comes French writer Tristane Banon who has filed a charge of attempted rape against the 62-year-old politician. The attempt on Banon, who happens to be a goddaughter of Strauss-Kahn’s second wife, has long circulated around the French rumor mill and was additional fodder on the speckled career of the man who wants to be the next president of France.
While “plenty of money” made obtaining a lot of information easier and tainted the Sofitel maid’s credibility on account of her ties to criminals and the half-truths on her immigrant status, Banon comes from a prominent family and her mother happens to be a party mate of Strauss-Kahn. Besides, there have been many instances of his peccadilloes like the “consensual” relationship with a Hungarian economist working for the IMF – for which he had publicly apologized to his wife and the IMF staff.
Early polls already indicate that the former IMF chief –who has been portrayed in such unflattering terms as a “rutting chimpanzee,” a “caviar socialist” and “The Great Seducer” – may find it difficult to revive his political career with French females now loathe to see him become their president. While he may have been praised for his handling of the global financial crisis when he was IMF head, it would seem he cannot manage his libido which has been described by many as out-of-control.
Chilling documentary
While Americans celebrated their 235th Independence Day with renewed feelings of hope that come when morning breaks with all its promise of a new day, many can still feel the chilling effect of 9-11 in their lives, as so vividly depicted in a documentary entitled “102 Minutes That Changed America,” shown once again over the History Channel last Saturday. The award-winning docu is a compilation of footages taken by amateurs and ordinary citizens who can only watch in horror as terrorists destroyed the twin towers and shattered Americans’ sense of safety and well-being. In those 102 chilling minutes, America was changed.
Listening to the interviews and watching the raw images, one begins to understand why Americans feel the way they do, and why their government engaged in a relentless pursuit that culminated in the killing of Osama bin Laden last May. It took America 3,519 days and more than $1.28 trillion – some even peg the cost at over $3 trillion – to hunt and kill just one man: Osama Bin Laden. While politicians may continue to debate on the implications of the Abbotabad operation, for many Americans, the trillion dollars spent in hunting down the world’s top terrorist was well worth the cost.
Failed prison break
Now here’s really one for the books – a member of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel who has been meted a 20-year prison term tried to escape by squeezing himself into the suitcase of his girlfriend. Juan Ramirez, known for being a very dangerous inmate who in local parlance can be described as a prison “mayor,” was found huddled like a fetus when prison guards became suspicious after they saw the jailbird’s girlfriend struggling with her suitcase. The 19-year-old woman claimed the luggage was full of dirty laundry – but couldn’t explain why she found it so hard to pull all those dirty clothes. The foiled prison break angered other inmates who feared the suspension of conjugal visits and other privileges.
This could serve as a good tip for acting Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Manuel Co to prevent any new escape attempts by prisoners especially after the Tony Leviste caper that embarrassed BuCor no end and forced the resignation of its former chief Ernesto Diokno.
Spy tidbit
– Top golf designer, Robert Trent Jones, was a special guest of US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas at the US Embassy Golf Tournament held last July 4 at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club, which by the way was designed by Jones himself. His father, Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed the Hacienda Luisita Golf Course. What made the tournament more eventful was the fact that in one hole, Robert Junior’s drive made “jabong” (water), as laughingly described by Ambassador Thomas.
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Email: spybits08@yahoo.com