Tomas supports citizenship application of Bigfoot founder

Mayor Tomas Osmeña is elated by the Senate's recommendation to approve the application for citizenship of Michael G.J. Gleissner, chairman of the Bigfoot Group of Companies.

The Philippine STAR reported that the Senate, voting 20-0, approved on third and final reading the resolutions, which recommended the granting of citizenship to Gleissner and another German, Fr. Ulriuch Schlecht.

"Of course I'm very happy! He's been very supportive of the community," Osmeña enthused, admitting that his recent trip to Manila also involved talking to some Senators to favor the resolution for Gleissner's citizenship.

"I was the one pushing for this too that's why I was in Manila," Osmeña said.

To finalize things, however, the Senate approval would need the nod of President Arroyo.

"Mr. Gleissner is more Cebuano than me. He's a Cebuano and Filipino by choice," Osmeña said.

In 2002, Gleissner founded Bigfoot Asia Pacific Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization that provides opportunities to the less fortunate to gain information technology skills in the country. He also built a multi-story structure in Cebu City that houses a call center and the International Academy of Film and Television.

In an interview with The STAR before he was granted citizenship, Schlecht added he doesn't mind the politics here and just wants to be of service to Filipinos.

After his ordination as a priest of the SVD order in Tagaytay City, Schlecht was assigned to work at the University of San Carlos for 20 years from 1966 to 1986. It was during this time that he fell in love with the Philippines, he said.

Schlecht taught Religion and worked as university chaplain and later as director of the San Carlos Retreat House.

Meanwhile, Osmeña said Gleissner's Filipino citizenship is beneficial to Cebu City because it would now make it easier for the businessman to invest in the city particularly at the South Reclamation Project, now officially referred to as South Road Properties.

Gleissner reportedly intends to lease over 10 hectares at the SRP, part of which would be utilized for the opening of an international yacht club.

Since arriving in the country on September 11, 2001, Gleissner has helped establish computer-learning centers in six mountain barangays in Cebu city and extended assistance to children of the Operation Second Chance.

Osmeña is enthusiastic of the businessman's ability to bring in new technology, saying he hopes to convince Gleissner to put up a major film studio at the SRP. Gleissner is reportedly satisfied with the workforce here in Cebu for its trainability.

A brief manuscript of Gleissner's biography obtained by The Philippine STAR showed the man's love for the Philippines and its people, especially its music. He even has plans on promoting Filipino music abroad. He has reportedly acquired the rights to remake the song "Bakit" and made a music video of the song worth $150,000.

Gleissner is chairman of Bigfoot Entertainment, a fully integrated entertainment company specializing in production, production services, talent management and film financing. As he envisioned Cebu to become the Hollywood in Asia, Gleissner had invested millions of dollars to set up the Bigfoot Global Solutions and also invested $20 million in setting up IAFT/Bigfoot Entertainment, a fully integrated entertainment company specializing in production, professional training, production services and film financing. - Joeberth M. Ocao