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10012004, 2.58PM




Read a story from today’s issue of Freeman about our big boss Mike G. being denied entry into the Philippines. Here’s a most of the story:

“Capitalist Micheal J. G. Gleissner, the major stakeholder
and chairman of Bigfoot Solutions group of companies threatened
to put off the company’s investment plans in the Philippines,
specifically Cebu due to the country’s (worsening) bureaucracy.

In his letter to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Gleissner
cited the Philippines’ sudden refusal to allow his private jet
to enter the Philippine air space.

“Last September 23 (2004), I was planning to visit our
headquarters in Cebu and attend a function, but also introduce
a new venture in the learning space that I primarily intended
to relocate in Cebu. I was traveling in a chartered jet,
and my pilots checked with ATO (Air Transportation Office)
Philippines before take off from Singapore and were assured
that the necessary permits will be waiting once they touch down
in Kota Kinabalu for a refueling stop. At Kota Kinabalu,
the entry into the Philippine air space was declined, citing that
no permit was issued. The jet was grounded on the runway
for 90 minutes, and in spite of constant communication
it was confirmed that the jet will not be allowed to enter
the Philippines air space,” Gleissner related his experienced
in his letter to the President.

“I am personally shocked and saddened about such an incredible,
unfriendly act. I have been doing business all over the world
and never experienced this.”

The company’s total investment in the Philippines in the last
three years exceeds US$20 million. Recently, the Bigfoot group
opened an International Film Academy at Mactan Island to help
develop the film industry and bring world class filmmaking education
to Cebu, as will as in the whole of Southeast Asia.

“Please understand that I have halted all expansion projects
in the Philippines pending proper resolution of the matter.
I thought that you as the President should be aware how bureaucracy
can permanently damage a prospering investor relationship,”
Gleissner said in his letter to the President dated September 28,
2004.

Also recently, Gleissner intervened at United Internet AG,
the world’s leading webhosting provider and a public company based
in Germany with a half a billion US dollars in revenue,
to locate their entire English-speaking customer service center
in Cebu.

He said he used to be a big fan of the Philippines, convincing
other foreign capitalist to invest in the country, but he said
because of the recent ordeal, he is re-considering his investment
preferences.”


Funny how governments can be really stupid.
Even stupider is how they can go on employing stupid people who are stupid.
Stupid!






Tsk, tsk, tsk... ha-hay. Federal na lang ta...