Sunday, June 30, 2008 Mongaya: Pacquiao too fast By Anol Mongaya Panahom
THE Princess of the Stars tragedy did not stop Filipinos from thinking about anything else for a few hours to watch the much-awaited fight between Manny Pacquaio and David Diaz.
The Pacman, true to every Filipinos’ wish, knocked out Diaz in the ninth round (though woe to those who bet the fight will go all the way). Pacquiao was simply too fast for Diaz.
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After the disasters that hit Sulpicio Lines and loss of lives of thousands through the decades, I think its now time for the owners to fold up and invest in other businesses that won’t endanger public safety.
But then, I don’t think they will give up. The business of floating coffins is too profitable to leave behind for good. It is up for government to put its foot down and say enough is enough. The question now is: does the Arroyo administration have enough political will to carry this out?
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It’s the turn of Medellin officials to air their complaints against Cebu Pacific. The airline apparently has not learned its lesson. After all, people still go for its low prices and the disservice that go with it.
How long will the Cebu Pacific owners realize that the air travel market now demand the service promised in return for the budget price? A group of 40 Cebuanos, for example, swore they will no longer take the airline after a sad experience with its budget promo that lost them one day of their Boracay vacation. The group had decided to book a flight several months early after seeing an ad for a direct Cebu-Caticlan flight. One week before the trip, they were told that the flight is not yet available and they have to take the Cebu-Kalibo flight. Until now, Cebu Pacific has ignored their official complaint about this clear breach of contract.
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Mayor Arturo Radaza and businessman Efrain Pelaez held two separate but revealing business-oriented activities last week.
On Thursday, the Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce Inc. (MICCI) headed by Pelaez gathered its members in a conference that criticized the difficulties and obstacles to running a business in Lapu-Lapu City. Aside from Pelaez, news reports about the conference identified no other prominent businessmen who attended.
Mayor Radaza, on the other hand, gathered Friday prominent businessmen at the Shangrila Mactan Island Resort. People like Antonio Aboitiz of the PBSP, Eddie Gaisano of Gaisano Mactan, Joseph Gaisano of White Gold Club, Genevieve Gaisano Po of Gaisano Metro, Felix Gochan, Raymond Bragg of the Shangri-la, Manuel Osmeña of Hilton Hotel, Ng Tek May of Keppel Cebu, Tristan las Marias, VP of Filinvest Development Corp., representatives from the Gokongwei group, Mariquita Chiong, and a host of others.
The people who went out of their way to express confidence in Mayor Radaza are bigger and more successful in their businesses than those Pelaez was able to gather.
From my vantage point here across the Mactan channel, the mayor is winning the business community despite claims of Mr. Pelaez that praises for Mayor Radaza are based on “rumors” and “media spin.” For why would more astute and successful businessmen invest billions on the city’s bright prospects under Mayor Radaza if they gave much weight to the allegations of Mr. Pelaez?
Dismissing the survey done by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and the accusations of the Weigels as irrelevant, Mr. Pelaez is obviously trying to skirt these valid and legitimate issues that he thought would go away. Unfortunately, the ploy has not worked his way and is showing the public vulnerable spots in his anti-graft buster armor.
The controversy now has gone beyond the computer overpricing issue, which is now at the hands of the Visayas Ombudsman. While Pelaez has gained much mileage using this issue, he should review an earlier case involving the purchase of computers in Cebu City worth P100,000 that the Visayas Ombudsman dismissed.
I would just like to clarify that the positive things I now write about Lapu-Lapu City does not mean I am blind to valid complaints raised by some people I know. What I am saying is: The AIM survey and the Weigel allegations, and now the show of force of pro-Radaza businessmen, have effectively undermined the litany of Pelaez complaints of doing business in Lapu-Lapu City. Worse, his ally Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz confirmed Mr. Pelaez’ political plans – that punches another big hole on his credibility – despite the businessman’s denial.
(Check out my blog “In Between Columns” at www. inbetweencolumns.wordpress.com)
