To Palawan by ferry

Did you know 1: In the short list for Land Bank of the Philippines president is Vicente Panlilio, senior executive vice-president of Far East Bank and Trust Co. before it purchased (in what was billed as a merger of equals because FEBTC was then itself looking to buy smaller banks instead of being bought) by Bank of the Philippine Islands.

The Landbank post was vacated by Margarito Teves, who, as the Finance Secretary, now chairs the bank.

Vicot Panlilio is the brother of JP Morgan (Phils.) chairman and chief executive officer Roberto Panlilio.

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Did you know 2: Even if he were qualified, Innove Communications president Gil Genio would probably not sign up for his company’s latest promotion – the winner of which wins a tricycle.

Innove is the Globe Telecom subsidiary for its landline business, which, of course, include dedicated single lines for Internet users.

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Did you know 3: Being a major financier of the country’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway (RORO, for short), Development Bank of the Philippines president and chief executive officer Reynaldo David is pushing for an eastern seaboard route from Manila to Palawan via Mindoro.

A shipping company has already agreed to regularly ply the Mindoro-Palawan white sands leg, for which DBP is extending a concessional (read: missionary route) loan at a percent less than the commercial rate.

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Newly-elected independent director for SM Investment Corp. Vicente Perez Jr. may have a problem attending board meetings but chairman Henry Sy Sr. is said to be indulgent about it.

You see, Vince Perez is off to Yale University as a world fellow for six months starting September. His wife, Leigh Talmadge Perez, whose group owns and manages the El Nido resort is, of course, joining him in the United States.

Meanwhile, the swearing in of Mr. Perez as chairman as Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. has been put on hold, delighting some member of the energy industry.

As everybody knows, Mr. Perez is the immediate predecessor of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

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Triple V Group’s Kamayan-Pasay Road has scrapped its all-you-can-buffet (a trend started in the country by founder Victor Villavicencio) in favor of ala carte, in response to customer demand.

Not many people know that Vic Vic Villacencio has already turned over his Triple V shares to his children. That means he is no longer chairman, president, or whatever although his is still the face and name that everybody associates with the restaurant chain.

What keeps Mr. Villavicencio busy (and young) is a new project – putting up five-star hotel/resorts of 100 rooms, at best, in key local destinations that are patterned after the Four Seasons hotel chain and the Aman Group that manages that ritzy resort in Palawan.

Mr. Villavicencio has already purchased the properties 10 to 15 years ago. And, since these hotels/resorts will be managed by Filipinos, the cost to customer is 50 percent less than those charged by hotels/resorts managed by foreign companies.