Jollibee’s new baby next year

Well, it looks like Philippine Stock Exchange outgoing president Ernest Leung isn’t going to accept any job offers for a while. When his contract ends in February, he intends to enjoy all those nature-tripping stuff like rock climbing that he hasn't had too much to do in recent years.

Mr. Leung's last month at work – that's January 2004 – will be focused on helping incoming president Cayetano Paderanga Jr. hit the ground running.

Dondon Paderanga's priority? More reforms.

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At the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, incoming president Noemi Lirag-Saludo has pretty much set down what she wants to do. You see, Ms. Lirag-Saludo has been with the PCCI as chairman of one committee or another.

Since she intends to retire from the PCCI after her stint as president, Ms. Lirag-Saludo has every intention of being the best president this business association – one of the country's three most influential – has even had.

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As in previous years, Bangko Sentral Governor Rafael Buenaventura is spending his Christmas in Punta del Fuego. His home which has a Japanese garden that even one without a green thumb can take of (read: it's a rock and sand garden is beside that of the Chase country manager Roberto Panlilio.

At one time, Bobit Panlilio was executive vice-president to Paeng Buenaventura’s president and chief executive officer at PCI Bank.

While on vacation, Mr. Buenaventura can only be reached through the cell phone of his wife, Victoria Rufino-Buenaventura. That means she has to personally know you to even read your text message.

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Did you know 1: Even before Christmas is through, Henry Sy's SM chain has already announced an after-Christmas sale. That means prices paid for stuff to be given before or on Christmas day are going to go down – the best time to go shopping.

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Did you know 2: Next year, PureGold founder Lucio Go is not just eyeing more store outlets, he is also going to spend money strengthening the transmission signal of this TV/radio company that he has taken effective control of (read: he has at least a 67- percent stake in the company).

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Did you know 3: Jollibee Foods Corp. president Tony Tan Caktiong is bringing into the Philippines that Japanese food chain that he bought in the United States.

Mr. Tan's idea is really simple – provide Jollibee customers with a choice of food, whether these be burger and fries, Oriental food (through Chowking Food Corp.), Italian Greenwich Pizza Corp.), Continental (through Delifrance), and Japanese next year.