BIZ BUZZ: ‘Bratty’ official losing friends

This high-ranking official of a government corporation seems to be losing her close friends over the way she conducts her job.

First, the official declined to help promote a large conference, which a friend was organizing for a monetary institution, although promoting such events falls under the official’s agency mandate.

Then just recently, another “dear friend”—a former model who made herself over as an influencer—resigned over what she described as “creative differences” with this official.

The former model had been hired by the official as marketing and business development consultant due to her having worked in marketing at a major consumer goods company. The last Instagram post of the consultant about her activities with the government firm was dated Jan. 21.

Biz Buzz hears that this government official is also quite notorious for bringing her husband, a Cabinet secretary in the previous administration, and the rest of her family on official trips abroad. She is likely just following the lead of her boss in her agency’s parent unit, who also brings the entire family on official trips here and abroad.

What an irony because the spouse’s present job involves the promotion of integrity and good behavior among government workers.

Speaking of good behavior, maybe the former Cabinet secretary should talk to his wife about moderating what her staff described as “bratty behavior” toward them.

One source said he had seen with his own eyes how his wife screams at the staff when she isn’t able to get her way. This includes even bypassing certain financial controls, despite her staff explaining that some of her demands are prohibited under government regulations.

Unsurprisingly, the Commission on Audit recently scored this wife’s office for certain financial improprieties. Maybe said official has yet to fully realize that she now works in the public sector where strict controls are in place to protect taxpayers’ money.

—Daxim L. Lucas

RSA’s P500-M ‘pambawi’ gift

San Miguel Corp. president and CEO Ramon Ang rarely gets emotional, but last Friday —on the 133rd anniversary of the country’s largest conglomerate—he did.

Part of the firm’s activities was the inauguration of a 3,700-square meter facility, which is part of its network of “Better World Community Centers” around the country. Only this one was San Miguel’s largest to date, and is located near the former Smokey Mountain garbage dump in Tondo, Manila (which is now a dense residential area).

The new facility will serve as a learning and skills development center for 2,500 families or roughly 12,500 individuals from the historically underserved communities in Tondo.

Better World Smokey Mountain has 39 modern classrooms spread across four levels, and is part of San Miguel’s ambitious goal to uplift the lives of 15 million Filipinos by 2030.

But it was Ang’s speech during the program that left a mark on the assembled crowd of beneficiaries and officials of the City of Manila, including Mayor Honey Lacuna.

Ang began by revealing that he was born in Tondo, grew up in Tondo, and went to school in Tondo—proof, he said, that any of the disadvantaged children listening to him that morning could grow up to be successful.

He later turned serious and emotional—getting choked up more than once—saying he felt sad that morning that he didn’t come back to Tondo earlier to help its residents.

Holding back tears before a crowd that was suddenly quiet, Ang said he felt it was his shortcoming that he didn’t return to Tondo sooner and see how much development assistance it needed.

The good news, of course, was that the San Miguel chief committed on the spot to redouble his efforts to help, saying he would donate an initial amount of P500 million for the city of Manila to put up more schools in the area.

“And this will not stop because, even after I’m gone, my children will continue to help,” he said in Tagalog, causing the resumption of the applause.

It certainly wasn’t a bad way of making up for one’s shortcomings, huh?

– Daxim L. Lucas