‘Drink less, work more'

AUSTRALIAN heiress Gina Rinehart, the world's richest woman, urged those envious of the wealthy to “spend less time drinking” and “work more.”

"There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she said.

"If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself--spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working."

Without missing a beat, the masses raised their pints and said, “Let's drink to that.” Rinehart, who inherited her father's mining fortune worth US $30.1 billion, harped on hard work as a way to amass great fortune.

She told the stories of her two grandfathers and three of her wealthy friends, who all started at the bottom and worked their way to the top.

She didn't say that the easiest way to become very rich is by inheriting and expanding your father's company.

President Noynoy Aquino named Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas as the new Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief Friday.

Roxas, 55, will assume the DILG's top seat, which was left vacant following the death of DILG chief Jesse Robredo in plane crash off Masbate last Aug. 18.

This could be Mar Roxas's first step on the road to the presidency. Roxas' name was on the top of possible replacements for the late Secretary Robredo.

He said he appointed Roxas because he knew the latter could do the job and he has full trust in him.

How about a brand new plane for Roxas?

Sen. Ping Lacson, who quietly slipped back into the country after a disappearing act following the filing of murder charges against him, said he was shocked to learn that former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother Mario were able to escape to Vietnam.

The Reyeses left through the Manila airport last March 18 with the help of two Bureau of Immigration personnel.

Senator Ping probably thought that only a Lacson can do a Lacson.