The talk is Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) chairman Helen Yuchengco-Dee is giving new president and chief executive officer Lorenzo Tan a free hand (read: minimal meddling) to transform a middling bank into a bank to reckon with again. This means some long-time officers may have to be reassigned to make the most of their, uhm, competencies.

As everybody in the banking industry knows, RCBC is Tan’s third stint as a “fix-it” guy, something he also likes to do with his collection of old cars and his “old-new” home.

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Did you know 1: Innove Communications president Gil Genio has finally agreed to extend a one-month-only 50-percent rebate on the March service fee of all clients.

You see, the broadband service of this Globe Telecom subsidiary has been erratic at best since a major earthquake off the coast of Taiwan damaged submarine cables that link the Philippines to the United States.  

Did you know 2: Here’s an interesting offer from Viking Cars, Inc. head Albert Arcilla. It’s a zero-interest car-financing plan for the 170 bhp Volvo sportswagon, V50.

The car-financing plan calls for a 50-percent down payment on the P2.4 million price tag; the balance to be paid over 36 months at about P32,500 a month. 

Did you know 3: There’s a reason why Carlos Chan is the country’s special envoy for trade and investment in China. You see, Chan—yes, yes, he’s the older brother of Suyen Corp. chairman Ben Chan—is said to be the most successful Filipino manufacturer of consumer goods in China.

Here in the Philippines, Chan is better known for his Oishi brand of snacks and candies. In China, the man is even thinking about producing liquor.

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Presidential consultant for entrepreneurship Jose Ma. Concepcion III normally does not entertain big groups in his home (read: he does his corporate entertaining in hotels) but he and wife, Marissa, made an exemption last Monday for the book launch of Go Negosyo’s 50 Inspiring Entrepreneurial Stories. 

Just newly renovated, the Concepcion home echoes that of Bantay Bata chairman Gina Lopez with its many water features. The home was huge enough to accommodate not only the entourage of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but also the 50 entrepreneurs featured in the book and their guests.

Personally chosen by Concepcion, the book includes:

■        only two taipans  in JG Summit founder John Gokongwei, Jr.; and SM Investments Corp. chairman Henry Sy);

■        one international fashion designer, Monique Lhuillier;

■        one in show business, Paolo Bediones; and

■        two politicians in Senate President and C&P Homes Inc. president and chief executive officer Manuel Villar; and Camarines Sur Governor and LCD president Lray Villafuerte. 

STOCKHOLDERS of publicly traded Boulevard Holdings Inc. (BHI) have approved an increase in the company’s authorized capital stock from P200 million to P5 billion during the annual stockholders’ meeting Wednesday.

PHILIPPINE stocks fell for a third day Thursday, the market’s longest losing streak in a month. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) dropped for a seventh day after the company said it hasn’t sold its stake in a satellite business, reversing a previous statement.

The talk is Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) chairman Helen Yuchengco-Dee is giving new president and chief executive officer Lorenzo Tan a free hand (read: minimal meddling) to transform a middling bank into a bank to reckon with again. This means some long-time officers may have to be reassigned to make the most of their, uhm, competencies.

SEEING the potential of its meetings and banquet trade this year due to the growing demand of corporate guests for additional business utilities within its premise, The Richmonde Hotel is mulling over the expansion of its facilities by converting a portion of its topmost floor into four functions rooms, the hotel’s top executive recently disclosed.

EVEN as corporate lodging has remained a fad and a stopgap measure that local real estate companies use to compensate for excessive vacancies in residential properties, it has actually become a staple for the hospitality industry.