Connect the dots
The amount involved is not paltry, so says our source, that is why all hell seems to have broken loose in the struggle for the House leadership
Is politics already rearing its ugly part in the ongoing skirmishes in the House of Representatives involving no less than the two leaders who have agreed to a term-sharing deal as speakers? The year 2022 is still a mile away but, already, the jockeying for position (or is it moolah?) is already evident.
Per this paper’s exclusive story over the weekend, it seems that incumbent speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is inclined to reneging on the agreement after the President, in his meeting with lawmakers in Malacañang, left no expressed commitment on the 15-21 sharing deal between Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord
Allan Velasco.
This was reportedly interpreted by the Cayetano camp as a sign that that he could stay on until the end of the President’s term in 2022. And it goes without saying, observers say, of more windfall for the conjugal leadership in Taguig.
Apparently, this has sent a lot of lawmakers up in arms over the inequitable distribution of discretionary funds from the Department of Public works and Highways, led by no less than the son of the rich and famous Villars — former senator Manny and Cynthia, yes, the not so tactful legislator from Las Piñas.
The power couple leads the Nacionalista Party, while their son. Mark, the DPWH, which is responsible for the funds’ release to the lawmakers including Cayetano.
The amount involved is not paltry, so says our source, that is why all hell seems to have broken loose in the struggle for the House leadership.
Just go on connecting the dots, our source said. AC
Crazy-rich Pinoys
Speaking of real-life crazy rich Asians, another Villar is said to be making her own mark in the world of business, media and the arts, along with scions of other families recently included in the Forbes’ list.
We’re referring to Camille Villar who was recently featured with Katrina Razon, Victor Consunji, Nicole Coson and Jaime Urquijo Zobel de Ayala in a respected Asian daily as among the popular scions.
Camille, it is said, is not one to let her property mogul father Manuel Villar define her. Sure, she did take charge of her family’s Vista Mall chain after graduating from the Barcelona campus of IESE Business School. But she seemingly wants more for herself, which prompted her to also dabble in TV hosting along the way. Today, she’s added political candidacy to her resume; she currently represents the Lone District of the City of Las Piñas.
Being the daughter of Spanish-Filipino port magnate Enrique Razon may have its perks, but that doesn’t stop Katrina Razon from working hard for herself. She is a venture capitalist and runs her own live events company, C:C Concepts in Los Angeles. Katrina also lets her love for music and conscious living guide her life. She not only moonlights as a DJ under the alias DJ Katsu, but she also serves as the director of programming at Thailand’s eco-conscious Wonderfruit Festival. When not too busy working and travelling, this aspiring yogi, according to the report, fights hard against single-use plastics.
Victor Consunji proves that following the footsteps of his grandfather, construction tycoon David Consunji, isn’t a bad thing. As the CEO of his own namesake company, Victor Consunji Development Corporation, the health-conscious businessman continues his family’s legacy in the construction and development sector, albeit with his own unique spin.
One would assume that heiress Nicole Coson would follow in the footsteps of her mother, famed businesswoman Teresita Tan Sy-Coson, who herself modelled her life after that of her father, billionaire tycoon Henry Sy. But as fate would have it, Coson is the creative one in the family. The 28-year-old has carved quite the illustrious career in the arts. She has been selected as one of the featured artists for the prestigious Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2020 art program.
If Jaime Urquijo Zobel de Ayala’s name strikes a chord, it’s probably because he descends from the famed Zobel de Ayala family, whose empire includes telecommunications, real estate, banking and hotel businesses. Currently the manager of Ayala Corp., he also co-owns Berde, a Makati-located restaurant serving healthy but no less tasty takes on timeless Filipino dishes.
JG