Ricky Razon's Mongolian barbecue

Business tycoon Enrique “Ricky” Razon Jr. (also known as EKR) is bent on leaving his mark all over the world with marine terminals and port projects located in the US, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Brazil, Poland, Madagascar and just recently, Karachi in Pakistan and Nigeria. This time, the Philippines’ third wealthiest man is putting up a mining business – of all places – in Mongolia.

How the ICTSI chairman and CEO manages to find business in all these places is amazing, but apparently the landlocked Mongolia (sandwiched between China and Russia which makes its location very strategic) has been getting a lot of attention from the most powerful countries in the world. While agriculture has traditionally been a major contributor to Mongolia’s economy, the country’s untapped mineral resources has triggered a veritable “gold rush” with the Mongolian government seeking to increase its stake in the giant Oyu Tolgoi (“Turquoise Hill”) copper and gold mine majority controlled by Australian outfit Rio Tinto. By 2013 alone, Oyu Tolgoi is projected to bring in some $5 billion in investments. 

Ricky is partnering with Uguumur Gotovsuren, owner of one of Mongolia’s biggest exploration firms, to put up a joint mining venture called “Mina de Oro.” Investors are very bullish about the country’s mining potential, with coal and uranium reserves said to be among the top 10 highest in the world. Government officials are hoping to generate over $25 billion in investments over the next five years. In fact, China has also announced its support for Mongolia’s bid to upgrade its mineral resources industry.

According to Honorary Consul of Mongolia to the Philippines Jun Lagman, the exotic nation – which has taken to describing itself as a “wolf economy” – had the fastest growing economy in 2011 with its GDP growing 17.3 percent – exceeding analysts’ expectations. Foreign direct investments also hit a record $3.8 billion, with the young democratic nation continuing to attract investors including “Mr. Oishi” Carlos Chan who we’re told is planning to put up a factory in the capital of Ulaanbataar (Ulan Bator).

There is no telling where multi-billionaire Ricky Razon will put his money next since he seems to be everywhere, placing his bet also in the gaming industry via Bloomberry Resorts Corp. whose ambitious project is set to rival gambling havens Macau and Las Vegas. EKR also has other businesses in the pipeline which he wants to keep under wraps for now. Nevertheless, there is no doubt about his plan to really go global in every sense of the word – even in the most desolate, isolated places like Mongolia. And to think he does not even like Mongolian barbecue!

Flight RPC 4431’s feng shui

Feng shui believers are pointing to the flight number of the Piper Seneca plane that crashed off Masbate, killing with it DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, pilot Capt. Jessup Bahinting and the Nepalese co-pilot Kshitiz Chand – as an indicator of the ill fate that was waiting to happen. According to a feng shui master, the plane’s registration of “RPC 4431” was very ominous because in traditional feng shui, number “4” is considered unlucky since it sounds very much like the word “death” in Cantonese. 

The plane was like a vehicle of death for the four passengers, with three of them perishing into the sea while one survived – which to numerology and feng shui practitioners was summed up in the numbers 4431: 4 (the number of death), 4 (the number of passengers), 3 (the number of fatalities) and 1 (Senior Inspector Jun Abrasado, the lone survivor). Christians however say the plane’s registry number has absolutely nothing to do with one’s fate, reasoning that there’s really nothing one can do but accept it when God calls your number.

Gaita and ‘The Firm’

We were invited to a fantabulous dinner “fit for an emperor” hosted by Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco, one of the country’s top law firms more popularly known as “The Firm.” Guests (which include Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Luca Fornari) say the gustatory feast held at CVC Law’s own Rainmakers Lounge was one of the best they have ever had, prepared no less by restaurateur Gaita Fores who served dishes said to be the favorites of the Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar.

Gaita, who runs the exclusive Rainmakers Lounge, had recently trained at the Casa Artusi culinary school in Romagna, Italy where she and a select staff got to know the secrets of traditional Italian home-cooked dishes. Gaita, whose successful culinary ventures such as Cibo, Fiori di M, Café de Bola and many others has given her unparalleled renown in elite circles, will be opening the Casa Artusi school in Manila to give Filipinos a taste of real Italian home cooking. 

Practical health tips

Health is wealth, which is why hundreds of millions of dollars are being poured into research on medicines and vaccines that could help fight fatal illnesses like cancer. However, recent health findings seem to suggest that a little ounce of careful living plus a number of practical health tips can be more important than thousands of dollars worth of medicine.

Here are some suggested health tips:

• Guyabano is best against cancer.

• Answer your cellphone with the left ear only. When the cellphone power is down to the last bar, don’t answer because radiation is 1,000 times stronger.

• Don’t take vitamins with cold water, and don’t take cold drinks with fatty food.

• Don’t have huge meals after 5 p.m.

• Drink more water in the morning and less at night.

• The best sleeping time is from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

• Don’t lie down right after taking any kind of medication.

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