The future of journalism

VIRTUAL REALITY

- TONY LOPEZ

I celebrated my 76th birthday anniversary yesterday, Nov. 25. Nov. 25 also marked the 23rd anniversary of BizNewsAsia, the largest Philippines' weekly business and news magazine. I have little or no competition now, in my niche.

At the dinner marking the occasion at Fairmont Hotel Makati, 220 guests confirmed their attendance, including the biggest businessmen of the land, led by Ramon S. Ang of San Miguel Corp., Tessie Sy of BDO and SM Investments Corp., Manny Villar of Vista Land and Lifescapes, chairman Amando Tetangco of SMIC, CEO Lorenzo Tan of HI and CEO Edgar Saavedra of Megawide; a number of notable ambassadors, MaryKay Carlson of the US, Laure Beaufils of the UK, Andreas Pfaffernoschke of Germany, Dr. Lai Thai Binh of Vietnam, Agus Widjojo of Indonesia, Tull Traisorat of Thailand, Matsuda Shigehiro of Japan and Economic Counsellor Luke Villiers of Australia.

Members of the Cabinet included Frederick Go, special assistant for investment and economic affairs; Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and DICT Secretary Ivan Uy, along with DFA USec Charles Jose, DBM USec Margaux Salcedo, DMW USec Dominique Tutay and Sen. Francis Tolentino.

Of course, my colleagues from the Management Association of the Philippines, Rotary Club of Manila, the Manila Overseas Press Club, Tuesday Club, Wednesday Club, First Friday Club, First Saturday Club, Greenhills Walkers Club were there.

At the dinner, BizNewsAsia honored the best in visionary management, management, the profession and the arts. About 20 of them. I also launched my second book on business, "Great Lives, Great Deeds."