Presidential BFF

He doesn’t want to say so, but many can see that PAGCOR chairman Cristino “Bong” Naguiat Jr. is one of President Noynoy Aquino’s BFF’s (Best Friends Forever).

Classmates since their college days at the Ateneo, Bong was among few close friends who joined the President in Baguio over the New Year. In fact, it was his 13-year-old daughter, whose back was to the camera, who was identified as the “mystery” lady friend in the President’s table at a restaurant in Camp John Hay in Baguio.

Naguiat isn’t a stranger to PAGCOR, having worked in its Finance department under then chairman Alice Ll. Reyes (during the Aquino administration). He resigned in 2001 over differences with the new management and rejoined PAGCOR last year, when his friend of over 30 years became Chief Executive. He admits he took out many “frozen” employees out of the freezer when he returned.

PAGCOR was put under the direct supervision of government 25 years ago and so it shares an anniversary with the EDSA People Power Revolution. Heeding the advice of her financial men that casinos can be a reliable source of revenues for the then cash-strapped National Treasury, Corazon Aquino put PAGCOR under government supervision. Strict fiscal and audit controls were put in place to ensure that every centavo earned and spent by PAGCOR was accounted for. To this day, points out Naguiat, 50 percent of PAGCOR’s gross revenues go to the National Treasury. Its net income goes to the President’s Social Fund, which finances projects for the less fortunate.

PAGCOR, which has 13 casinos, earned P31 billion last year and Naguiat hopes to increase that to P35 billion this year. He believes PAGCOR can chalk up more revenues because the economy, in general, is growing. He aims to boost revenue not just by attracting more players, but also by saving more. Since he took over in July last year, PAGCOR has been able to save P700 million. How?

“By doing the right things,” answers Naguiat, who is 49 and was the last of Noynoy’s buddies to tie the knot (Perhaps that explains their closeness, for both were bachelors for the longest time — one still is.). He vows to have the same policy of transparency espoused by Mrs. Reyes. Naguiat hosted lunch yesterday at the Hyatt Manila for the members of the Bulong Pulungan lunch forum. Also present were PAGCOR directors Lito Tanjuatco, Jorge Sarmiento and Eric Nuguid.

Some 25 to 30 percent of PAGCOR’s revenues come from Korean patrons, reveals Naguiat. Asians are gamblers by nature, he thinks, and even if you put a casino on an island in the middle of the ocean, it will make money.

One of the changes Naguiat is instituting is the refurbishing of the PAGCOR’s main casino by the international airport, with no less than internationally renowned furniture designers Kenneth Cobonpue, Budji Layug and Royal Pineda in the helm of the design team. Naguiat wants the PAGCOR casinos to live up to its name “Casino Filipino” with modern Filipino interiors.

Going to casinos is a form of amusement and need not be a vice, Naguiat believes. When a player’s spending has already become a problem to his family and his relatives write to PAGCOR to complain, the gaming corporation bans the player from all its casinos.

* * *

So how is President Aquino like as a friend?

“Very loyal,” Naguiat answers immediately. “He hates people who put up pretenses. He would rather accept you for what you are than put up with your pretenses.”

His closest friends are like his “shock absorbers,” reveals Naguiat, who handled the money of Noynoy and his small campaign team during the 1986 snap elections.

Will Noynoy ever get married?

“Pangarap niya ‘yon,” says Naguiat, “because he wants to have kids, too.”

According to Naguiat, the President has stayed unmarried this long because “he really took seriously the role of protecting his mom and his sisters, especially his mom.”

Because we know that he is one of the President’s BFF’s, we needled Naguiat more about Noynoy’s girlfriends and whom he was serious with.

“He was serious with all of them,” smiled the softspoken Naguiat.

Though tight-lipped about the President’s type of girl, he shared that Noynoy loves chicharon and kettle-cooked potato chips. During Naguiat’s last visit to the US, the President asked for kettle-cooked potato chips for pasalubong and Naguiat hand-carried 12 packs home for him.

He admires how fast Noynoy Aquino has grown into his job and when he (Naguiat) feels discouraged by criticism, the President reminds him that they both only have less than six years to go.

Naguiat says he will then go back to his beloved second home, Baguio, and retire. As for Noynoy Aquino, Naguiat is sure he will not cling to power and those who plan to establish a parliamentary form of government will be disappointed if they plan to convince Noynoy to be Prime Minister. (You may e-mail me at [email protected])