Gwen meets Pangilinan gets exposure at ball game; possible investments

CEBU, Philippines - The meeting between Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and businessman Manuel Pangilinan to discuss possible investments in Cebu last Sunday night ended up at the PBA Commisioner’s Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday night.

“He kindly asked if I would wish to look at this final game,” Garcia told reporters yesterday. She reportedly watched the game with Dame Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung and Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda.

The Smart Araneta Coliseum is owned by Pangilinan. He also owns the two teams playing that night, the B-Meg (90) and Talk ‘N Txt Tropang Texters (84).

Garcia said she was acknowledged at the coliseum more than once before a crowd of 21,000, something she admitted was good exposure. It was like hitting two birds with one stone as far as publicity was concerned because the game was also televised nationwide.

Garcia is running for senator in next year’s polls under the UNA Party of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

She, however, refused to disclose what she and Pangilinan discussed in relation to her political plans. “We were just there to watch the PBA game,” Garcia said.

During the meeting, Garcia said that Pangilinan expressed interest to invest in Cebu.

“There is strong interest to invest to Cebu,” Garcia said.

Pangilinan owned the Maynilad Water Services, one of the challengers of the unsolicited proposal of the Manila Water Services to develop the Carmen Bulk Water Project in Cebu. Although Maynilad lost in the bid, the business mogul is said to have been impressed by how fair and transparent the process was. 

“According to him, they really saw this brand of firm leadership and political will that we exhibited especially in the entire process,” Garcia said.

Garcia pointed out that it was a difficult process since Carmen Bulk Water Project was first of its kind and it “turned out that all parties agreed that the entire process was very fair and transparent.”

Pangilinan has yet to decide on the specific businesses to invest in here.

Garcia said the provincial government welcomes external investments to complement businesses of local investors.

“This is really a good mix between outside investments and our own businessmen from Cebu,” Garcia said.  (FREEMAN)