One strange dinner

That was a strange dinner held two nights ago in Binondo. You see, all the officers of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. were invited except for president John K.C. Ng and executive vice-president Robin Sy.

Stranger yet, the poll was held then and there on who should be the federation’s next president – the in-law of Lucio Tan or the classmate of Lucio Tan?

The FFCCCII will hold its elections within the first half of this year. Johnny Ng, who served the uncompleted term of the late Benjamin Chua Jr., and Mr. Sy are in the list of possible candidates for president.

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In the span of six weeks, former Sugarlandia owner Dante Go held four grand parties for one reason or another in his new Makati home. The most sought-after invitation – the one for the house-warming middle of last month – had President Macapagal-Arroyo at the top of the guest list.

The four parties were really necessary. It would be unthinkable, for example, for the President to, uh, relax with people who are associated with her predecessor, President Estrada. Or for the President to mingle with the not-so-prominent members of the Chinese-Filipino community.

Oh yes, the Mediterranean style home has an elevator, which can comfortably carry Mr. Go and his two grown-up children (and his mother, should she visit) up and down the two floors.

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It’s sad that George Sy is better known these days for not talking to his sister, Bernadine Sy (and vice-versa) than as president of the Confederation of Garment Exporters of the Philippines.

Not many people outside the garments industry, for example, know that Congep is currently hosting a regional conference. It’s such an important conference that big-name global suppliers and buyers are in town, which should terribly please Garment and Textile Export Board director-general Serafin Juliano.

Among the conference speakers is Luen Thai Phils. president Willie Tan, who grew up in Navotas and is now based in Hong Kong (when he is not buying up more of Saipan, an American protectorate in the Pacific).

Luen Thai is probably the country’s biggest garment exporter, counting Ralph Lauren Polo and Liz Claiborne among its clients.

Fact is, its production facilities in Central Luzon are so technology-driven that they can bring a design to the market in New York within weeks (mind you, not months) after the order is made, making it easier to increase orders of designs that sell well and to stop orders of design that stay on the shelves.

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As with every year, Bangko Sentral Governor Rafael Buenaventura will host the annual cocktail party for bank presidents and chief executive officers to celebrate the end of the Jan. 1-7 Banking Week.

Since it is always held on a Friday, the party is set for tomorrow. And no matter how blasé they are, the bankers will want to have a photo taken with Paeng and Victoria Buenaventura. Mr. Buenaventura, because he is the man as far as the banking industry is concerned; Marivic Rufino-Buenaventura, because she’s got nicer looking legs than everybody else in the party.