BIZ BUZZ: Robina Gokongwei and her ‘python twin’

It was a presocial media fake news that evolved into an urban legend over the decades. The tale even influenced pop culture as it was featured in one of those “Shake, Rattle and Roll” flicks.

As the legend goes, the daughter of this wealthy businessman who owns a shopping mall has a twin “sawa” (python) that lays golden eggs, supposedly the source of the family’s wealth.

But the sawa devours women—and only beautiful ones at that—so the rich family built trap doors under the dressing room to swallow ladies that would be offered to the snake.

READ: BIZ BUZZ: Maroons in the land of K-Pop

Such python talk used to get on the nerves of Robina Gokongwei-Pe, the “human twin” of the legendary python, when she was younger.

“It was nakaka-irita (irritating), especially those who believed,” she told Biz Buzz, when asked how she felt when she first heard about it.

These days, however, it’s just something for her to laugh about. She could even crack a joke about it.

In her speech at the signing of the renewal of sponsorship for the UP Men’s Basketball Team on Wednesday, the godmother of the Fighting Maroons told the team: “Manalo, matalo, may buffet pa din kayo at raffle, at love ko pa din kayo. But manalo kayo kahit isang point lang kung hindi ipapatuka ko kayo sa kakambal kong cobra. (Win or lose, you will still be treated to buffet and raffle and I’ll still love you. But please win even by just one point, or else, I will ask my twin cobra to bite you).”

“Yung mga tumawa yung mga matatanda (The ones who laughed were the older ones in the audience),” Gokongwei-Pe said in jest as she narrated to Biz Buzz the event of the Nowhere To Go But UP Foundation, held ahead of the opening on Saturday of Season 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, hosted by the University of the Philippines.

After all, today’s generation of Maroons may not have even been born yet when the legend of the sawa first captured Filipinos’ active imagination.

To this day, Gokongwei-Pe said they had never been able to trace the source of the tale. She could only recall that this started when the group opened a Robinsons Mall in Cebu.

“How it started, I think we were the first national player that entered the province,” she said. “But why it (legend) stayed [alive after so many decades] we don’t know.” —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla

TAPE makes a comeback

A good comeback story of a beloved character is a favorite plot in a typical Pinoy teleserye. And we are seeing one now in the flesh with the return of Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc.

The Jalosjos-led company has resumed the production of on-air and online content, talent management, recording and film production, as well as concerts and events.

READ: TAPE feels ‘vindicated’ after employees’ complaint is dismissed

This, after launching its very own TAPE Artist Management Agency just last year.

The production outfit, which was embroiled in a heated trademark war over the “Eat Bulaga” brand, said its stockholders had infused fresh capital into the company to fund its growth.

“TAPE Inc. will remain steadfast to upholding fiscal responsibility and implement cost-effective measures,” the company said. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Driving over the hump

It was a bumpy start for InDrive, the new ride-hailing app trying to carve out a space in the local market dominated by Grab.

To recall, the company had to suspend operations for six months for supposed violations of the fare matrix scheme. But all is well now after it adhered to the regulations of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Since resuming operations in June, InDrive saw its active users rise by 86 percent while the number of its driver partners nearly doubled.

“We have always believed in the power of mobility to transform lives. Our strategic goal for 2030 is ambitious but clear: to positively impact the lives of over 1 billion people worldwide,” InDrive marketing director for Asia-Pacific Natalia Makarenko said.

“We aim to achieve this by continuously driving change through innovative mobility solutions and community-driven initiatives that resonate with the needs of the people we serve,” she added. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad