BIZ BUZZ: Century Properties adds to Yulo haul

The Century Properties Group led by founder and chair as well as Marcos ambassador at large Jose EB Antonio marked this year’s National Heroes’ Day by adding to the already considerable haul of modern-day hero, double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo.

Yesterday, Antonio handed over to Yulo the symbolic key to his future house and lot at PHirst Editions Batulao in Batangas before an excited crowd of about 300 Century Properties Group officers, employees and agents.

READ: Tax on our Olympians’ winnings, prizes and incentives

Fittingly, this new home that should be ready for occupancy in about six months is also named Charles, which translates to Carlos in Spanish. On top of that, the group gave a P500,000 donation to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines led by Cynthia Carrion, its president and long-time mentor of Yulo.

Over merienda, Antonio advised Yulo to take stock of his newfound wealth and make sure that he does not spend it too soon and on unnecessary purchases, lest he end up sharing the fate of other elite athletes who are princes one day and paupers the next.

Fortunately, Yulo has tapped a professional fund manager to conserve his funds for the long haul. The manager has work cut out for him as his prizes for winning the double gold are estimated to have rung up to around P100 million in cash and in kind.

And if Antonio would have his way, Yulo should invest his money in more real estate.

“It is always the best investment,” Antonio said. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao

MVP fired up to go nuclear

Looks like billionaire Manuel V. Pangilinan is getting charged up about his Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) Group’s nuclear energy push.

Executives of the power distributor giant recently flew to the United States, China and Canada to team up with universities there, where five of its homegrown Pinoy engineers will be equipped with the best practices in the nuclear power sector.

READ: Meralco to build nuclear power plants by 2028

So far, the company has signed deals with the North American institutions Ontario Tech University in Canada; the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States; and China’s Harbin Engineering University and Tsinghua University.

The Chinese universities are partners of the nuclear titan China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas Ltd.

“These partnerships will help us in having a greater understanding of nuclear technologies, ensuring that challenges are addressed, and plans are well aligned with the government policies prior to deployment,” Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said.

The group’s nuke scholars are expected to return home by 2028 and will be assigned roles in Meralco’s nuclear power generation unit.

This timeline complements Panilinan’s target of firing up his nuclear dream in “eight to 10 years,” albeit a little delayed from his 2028 initial goal. This, as developing small modular reactors “turned out to be more difficult than anticipated.” —Lisbet Esmael INQ