BIZ BUZZ: Dancing with the stars
How often can a fund manager or an economist appear in a viral video? Once in a blue moon, if at all—unless they get entangled in show biz affairs.
COL Investment Management president Marvin Fausto and wife Rose, a behavioral economist and no-nonsense blogger a.k.a. “FQ Mom” who writes about personal and household finance tips, got such a taste of starmometer sizzle after attending the wedding of VJ-actor Robi Domingo and Maiqui Pineda. (Rose stood as a principal wedding sponsor).
The Faustos figured prominently in a video clip dancing with popular actress Kathryn Bernardo at the Domingo-Pineda wedding reception.
It went viral as the video captured young actor Donny Pangilinan giving a glass of water and talking to Bernardo (fresh from the painful #Kathniel breakup), apparently inviting her to dance. This piqued netizens’ interest, fueling allegations/speculations that Pangilinan is ‘interested’ in the newly single young actress.
Wouldn’t it be great if these speculators focus their energy on the financial markets instead?
But all told, the Faustos (especially the missus) looked fab and graceful on the dance floor. —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla
Much-awaited IPO
The market has been anticipating the initial public offering (IPO) of GCash, the popular e-wallet brand in the country, for quite some time now. And it may happen soon for the e-wallet provider whose parent company is already a double unicorn.
Oscar Reyes Jr., president and CEO of e-wallet operator G-Xchange Inc., recently said they were hoping to go public by the second half of this year.
“We’re preparing internally so we can be ready for this year,” he said. To recall, GCash said last year it was already ripe for IPO.
But GCash is on a wait-and-see mode, cautiously monitoring the stock market first before launching the IPO.
“From how it looks, the market doesn’t look hopeful for now. We’re waiting for that to recover,” Reyes said.
Now, the question is: Will GCash finally go ahead with its IPO plan this year? Let’s see!—Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
MVP Group ventures into live events
Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan’s PLDT Group is building up a new major revenue stream through live concerts and events, banking on the recent trend of Filipinos splurging and even traveling for performances in the country and overseas.
The group’s MediaQuest, led by Jane Basas, recently launched the new events arm called MQLIVE.
Their opening act is Korean superstar Park Hyung-sik, who will return to the country for a fan conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 17 this year.
Tickets are currently on sale and our sources said the show, called Park Hyung-sik 2024 Asia Tour FM “SIKcret Time in Manila,” is on course to become a blockbuster event.
PLDT and Smart were pioneers in bringing mega Korean artists to the country, including global superstars BTS.
We’re told there’s much more to come as MQLIVE secures more artists in the future. Given high hopes for the new business unit’s success, insiders are now wondering whether Basas herself might be in play as PLDT searches for an eventual successor to Pangilinan as the top executive of the telco giant. Miguel R. Camus
Have P500M? Park Villas may be for you
Don’t be surprised if you are not seeing any major public announcement about the 50-story Park Villas, one of the latest projects of Ayala Land Premier that will rise near The Peninsula Manila in Makati City.
That’s because it is not for everyone.
After all, the ultra-luxury residential project will only have 45 units – one per floor – with each fully kitted out unit spanning some 600 square meters with an enviable view of the Ayala Triangle gardens.
The price tag? A cool minimum of – gasp – $9 million or P504 million for each unit that will go to one owner.
Ayala Land has started selling privately, however, and surprisingly or unsurprisingly, reservations have been coming in fast.
These interested buyers are coming mainly from the Forbes Park and Dasmarinas Village crowd who are now empty-nesters and want to “downsize” to a smaller home without compromising on the lifestyle that they’re used to.
Interested? Perhaps it’s time to whip out that check book and be one of the lucky 45. — Tina Arceo-Dumlao
