Shell shock

Christmas décor exporters recently participated in a huge trade fair in the United States and set a record of sorts: zero orders.

You see, all the business that should have gone to the Philippines went to China. These guys competed not only on price points but in terms of design, which seemed to shock the so-called "Milan of Asia" (that’s us) no end, notwithstanding the influence China has had on world arts and culture for more centuries than the Philippines was ever a nation.

* * *

The talk in Binondo is that it takes only two votes to elect the president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

One voter, with postal address in Malacañang, has made known her choice last Tuesday in a dinner for 10 (for which only seven received invitations).

The other voter, with as many postal addresses as his business (including Guam), has been the federation kingmaker for year by virtue of his immense wealth and his closeness to the People’s Republic of China. And he isn’t saying whom he would vote for.

* * *

A producer of sanitary napkins located in Visayas-Mindanao is entering the Metro Manila market.

Even after inputting the high cost of freight which is more expensive than just shipping the same product from Thailand or China, the producer feels his pricing will still be attractive compared to those already in the market.

* * *

After producing upscale cigarette brands under license from foreign companies for ages, the Cheng family of La Suerte is now selling truly cheap cigarettes that even the poor of Metro Manila wouldn’t inhale. Consequently, these cigarette brands (with names such as Astron) are marketed in the provinces.

Not that the majority stockholders of La Suerte are complaining. After all, the family got P10 billion up front and a 10 percent stake in Philip Morris Phils. when the American company pre-terminated its licensing agreement and decided to locally manufacture these foreign brands themselves.

* * *

Looking for a job?

Former Bangko Sentral Governor Gabriel Singson is "side-lining" as a headhunter and has been asking friends to give him recommendations for a high-profile job that would never be advertised in the newspaper – to avoid the riff-raff, you understand.

For the job, Gabby Singson’s principal is willing to offer a more than excellent compensation package. The minimum requirements are, however, pretty steep.

You see, a non-negotiable must for the job is that the person must have tremendous cachet in political and business circles. You know, that kind of instant recognition and respect from the public that comes with, say, the use of a first name (for example, Cory or Bayan) or an acronym (for example, FVR).

Mr. Singson is a great believer in serendipity or the harmony of being in the right place at the right time.

You see, he was deputy governor before he was 40 and senior deputy governor for about 13 years but the big jump to governor in 1993 was courtesy of a personal friendship cultivated since childhood to the President who was elected a year earlier.