No empty office tables here

There’s a reason why Wharton-educated (summa cum laude) Lance Gokongwei is president of all the companies under JG Summit (and why all the tables in his office and part of the floor is littered with all sorts of documents).

It speeds up the decision-making process, a competitive advantage of companies which have stayed closed to their entrepreneurial beginnings.

In this conglomerate, the feasibility study can follow after an executive decision is made and is approved by the board chaired by Mr. Gokongwei’s uncle, James Go.

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Just asking 1: With his 65th birthday coming up soon, will Bank of the Philippine Islands president and chief executive officer Xavier Loinaz be retiring?

Technically, 65 is the mandatory retirement age in the Ayala Group. Just ask former Ayala Corp. president Jaime Zobel de Ayala, who had to retire in favor of his son, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II.

Then again, it took about a year before the replacement of Ayala Land Inc. president Francisco Licuanan III was announced.

As everybody knows, Kaiku Licuanan is officially stepping down only on New Year’s Day in favor of Jaime Ayala – call him Jimmy so as not to confuse him with his boss, JAZA. Even then, Mr. Licuanan will be staying on as consultant to make the transition seamless.

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Just asking 2: Will Philippine Stock Exchange president Ernest Leung change his retirement plan after all?

Mr. Leung has made it known that he wants to retire by year-end. Then again, everybody knows Mr. Leung is a sucker every single time for the patriotic line – you know, for God and country.

Mr. Leung’s strongest suit in every job that he’s had is his incorruptibility coupled with intelligence. His weakest link? He can get caught up in the details, which can s-t-r-e-t-c-h out the decision-making process.

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Just asking 3: Will Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho finally accept the resignation letter (the fourth one) of National Treasurer Eduardo Sergio Edeza or will they leave government service together? Recall the motto of the heroes of Alexandre Dumas’ "Three Musketeers" – one for all and all for one.

Sure, Boy Edeza lives with his mother and can, therefore, cut down on his expenses. But his salary is nowhere near what he got when he handled the treasury department of Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co.

The talk is Metrobank chairman George S.K. Ty will welcome back Mr. Edeza anytime. And since the Bureau of Treasury does not supervise banks, Mr. Edeza is not covered by the one-year prescription period before moving to the private sector.