frankly speaking

Industrial banker Andrew Gan gets candid with Maurice Arcache about the nightlife scene, the rise of the middle class, and social climbers

I love you for your candidness; have you been keeping out of trouble?

Yes, absolutely.

You post a lot of things on social media, Has this ever gotten you into a fight?

Haha! Yes! With Freddie Olbes in fact. But now we just laugh about it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Do you get scared about commenting on the government?

No. Despite what some people may think, we live in an open, democratic society. I don’t have any huge issues with our current government.

What about haters/bashers?

Just unfriend them. It’s my wall—emphasis on my. They can go hate and bash on their own walls. Besides, you have the option to report them to Facebook; there is something called Facebook jail.

We are all maturing, some more than others. Have you seen yourself as less feisty?

I certainly think so. Live and let live is a much easier way to go about life.

Do you believe that the world belongs to the young or the young at heart?

While that is true in many cases, I think age and experience bring a lot to the table. Now, if you have that and are young at heart [like you], then I think you’ve got it made.

Can you see anything positive about the current situation in the Philippines?

I see a growing middle class, for one. Have you noticed how many new restaurants and shops and cars there are now? A growing market is a wonderful thing for everyone.

What about the nightlife scene, what would you recommend I try out?

Although the spirit is willing, I don’t go out so much anymore. Haha! I still visit Bank Bar and Mandalay, places where you can actually talk. You have to play to your strengths and, at my age, that’s conversation. So it is silly for me to go to a bar where the music is blaring. I will have basically negated my strength.

You’re on the social radar. Is that worth being excited about?

It’s always fun to be on any radar.

We have always been frank with each other. What do you suggest I should change about my character?

I think you are great just the way you are: an icon who is young at heart. Everybody responds and relates to you from teens to octogenarians.

You’re like a walking encyclopedia. How do you keep all that info in your brain?

You know very well what a news junkie I am. If you don’t keep using your brain, just like everything else, it will atrophy.

How do you deal with social climbers?

In my current peace-and-love mode, I simply think we all have to start somewhere!

If you were starring in a movie, which role would you like to play?

I would love to play any of the characters in my favourite movie, Out of Africa. They are all so interesting, from Isak Dinesen aka Karen Blixen to Denys Finch-Hatton to Baron Bror Blixen. They are all fascinating.