The Good Side of Greed

by Fel Gorospe

Greed is technically defined as a negative, the excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth. However, there is a paradigm when greed is
good and we got to tap our inner Gordon Gekko (the main character of the 1987 hit movie, “Wallstreet”).

Our recent series of strategic planning in the VGent Group of Companies were centered on path to profitability and it establishes the proforma principle that corporations are never humanized, they are designed to increase shareholders’ wealth and make money. In other words, companies are based on greed. And therefore, industries and economies are fundamentally based on  greed.

As greedy as a company can get, however, when the supplemental motivation is to alleviate the standards of living of employees and in turn forward a good percentage to civic works such as VGent Foundation, then I would suppose there is a good side of greed.

Sadly, it is the side of greed that most companies nowadays lack and fail to live up to.

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LET US REMEMBER THAT, AS MUCH AS HAS BEEN GIVEN US, MUCH WILL BE EXPECTED FROM US, AND THAT TRUE HOMAGE COMES FROM THE HEART AS WELL AS FROM THE LIPS, AND SHOWS ITSELF IN DEEDS.

UNIVERSE.  Two Russian astronauts began their first spacewalk of the year to install new high-speed data transmission system outside the Russian Pirs compartment at the International Space Station.  Dmitry Kondratyev, 41, and Oleg Skripochka, 41, will spend six hours in space as part of the 27th Russian space station spacewalk.  It will be the first time in open space for Kondratyev and the second time for Skripochka.  The astronauts arrived at the  on Dec 17.

WORLD.  The year 2010 was the warmest year since global temperature records began in 1850--although margins of uncertainty make it a statistical tie with 1998 and 2005. The World Meteorological Organization concludes 2010 was 0.53C warmer than the average for the period 1961-90. The 10 warmest years have all occurred since 1998.  The WMO analysis combines data from three leading research agencies, and is regarded as the most authoritative.

AFGHANISTAN.  At least 40 Taliban have surrendered and joined pro-government forces in the north after a military operation. Kunduz province police chef Abdul Rahman Sayedkhaili said the insurgents had given up in the district of Imam Saheb, near the border with Tajikistan. Violence across Afghanistan is at its worst since the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban government.

CUBA.  Cuba has suspended all postal deliveries to the USA until further notice.  The suspension follows the introduction of stricter security measures by the US last year after the attempted mailing of explosives from Yemen.  Postal service between the US and Cuba had been suspended for 42 years after Cuba's communist revolution, and only resumed in 2009 via third countries.

DR CONGO.  An army commander in Democratic Republic of Congo has been accused of leading the recent mass rape of at least 50 women. One of the victims, as well as sources quoted in a UN report, all accuse Lt Col Kibibi Mutware of links to New Year's Day rapes in the town of Fizi. The mass rape is believed to be the largest single incident allegedly involving the army.

IRAQ.  Two bomb attacks near the city of Karbala have killed at least 50 people and injured more than 150.  The blasts happened on two different routes being used by pilgrims taking part in the Shia Muslim commemorations of Arbaeen.  Earlier, another suicide bomber killed at least three people in the central city of Baquba--the second deadly attack in the city in as many days.

PHILIPPINES. All roads lead to Tagum City as it hosts the 3rd International Rondalla Festival.  A total of 26 local and foreign “rondalla” are expected to participate in the Feb. l2-l9 musical festival.   The weeklong festival aims to ride on the momentum of renewed interest in rondalla music during the past two festivals hosted in Naga City (2004) and Dumaguete City (2007).

POLAND.  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a two-year, $30 billion credit facility with Poland, replacing a one-year arrangement agreed July last year. The IMF said that Poland viewed the facility as "precautionary and does not intend to draw on it".  It said that the Polish economy had gathered momentum in 2010, but that "sizeable downside risks remain".

ARTS.  Yashodha de Silva's winning entry in the inaugural Galle Literary Festival's creative writing competition is about the futility of tears.  Tears shed by the 14-year-old's classmates when Galle harbor in Sri Lanka was attacked by Tamil Tiger rebels last year.  A few months later, the city's historic fort, has been playing host to an incursion of 61 writers from all over the world.

BUSINESS.  Facebook has said that it raised $1.5bn from investors, valuing the world's most popular social networking site at $50bn. About $1bn of the total came from overseas clients of Goldman Sachs. The remaining $500m came from Goldman itself, and Russia's Digital Sky Technologies. Facebook said it could have raised more money from the oversubscribed offer.

CRIME.   Malaysia’s navy commandos have foiled an attempted hijacking of a ship in the Gulf of Aden, rescuing 23 crew and capturing seven Somali pirates.  The commandos injured three pirates during a gun battle on board the Malaysian-flagged MT Bung Laurel chemical tanker  The opera-tion came on the same day South Korean commandos freed a hijacked freighter near Oman.

ENVIRONMENT.  The death toll from South Africa's floods has continued to rise, following weeks of heavy rains that began in December.  Seventy people have died and more than 8,000 families have been forced to leave their homes. Five other countries in the region are on alert for further floods.  Some of the biggest rivers in the region are at about twice their normal levels.

HEALTH.  A woman in the USA  is able to speak for the first time in 11 years after a pioneering voicebox transplant.  Brenda Jensen, 52, said that the operation, which took place in California, was a miracle which had restored her life. Thirteen days after the surgery she said her first words: "Good morning,  I want to go home."  Her new voice sounded very similar to her old one.

LAW.  Two German towns that straddle the former Iron Curtain are locked in a dispute over their nearly identical names. The western town of Oberharz (Upper Harz) brought suit against the eastern city of Oberharz am Brocken (Upper Harz on Brocken) to change its name. Three at-tempts to mediate the dispute between the two municipalities that lie 20 km apart have failed.

LIFESTYLE.   Guests at the recent Istanbul premiere of a new vampire film were among the first victims of new curbs on alcohol that have raised secularist fears that Islamic strictures may be encroaching on everyday life.  The rules tighten up license requirements for serving alcohol, impose restrictions on alcohol marketing and limits sales to designated areas in stores.

POLITICS.  More than 5,000 people have rallied in Jordan to protest over economic policy and call for the government to resign. The protesters have taken to the streets in Amman and other cities over the past week, angered by rising prices and unemployment. The government recently announced a $125 million  package to reduce prices, as well as measures to boost salaries.

RELIGION.  A Roman Catholic priest has appeared in a Canadian court after being extradited from Belgium to face charges of molesting boys more than 30 years ago. The Reverend Eric Dejaeger, had been wanted since 2002. The 63-year-old was arrested in his native Belgium on charges he overstayed his visa. He faces six charges related to crimes against children.

SPORTS.  Most people would agree that Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.  But his reputation could have been tarnished a bit after a Filipino busboy beat him in an basketball shootout.  Kobe was simply no match for the awesome skills of Ricardo Reyes in a mini-basketball game of “Pop-a-Shot.  Kobe lost to Reyes, 82-58.

TECHNOLOGY.    A post on the social networking site Facebook helped lead Mexican police to the main suspect in the shooting of the Paraguayan footballer Salvador Cabanas.  Police knew that the suspect, Jose Jorge Balderas Garza, was in a relationship with a Colombian model.  When a Facebook profile in her name listed a Mexico City area as her location, officers moved in.

TRAVEL. European travel companies rushed this week to retrieve thousands of tourists on package tours to Tunisia after widespread protests toppled the longtime president and brought chaos to some cities. Tour companies in the United Kingdom and Germany started the airlift pro-cess.  Tunisia in recent years has become a popular sun-and-sand destination for Europeans.

QUOTES.   “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs l2:l7…  “Good friends are like the stars. You don’t always see them.  But you know they are always there.” Aurelia Asuncion… “The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is bound-less.” Jean Jacques Roussea…  “Silence, a beautiful voice.” Lord Alfred Tennyson

FLASHBACKS.   Cesare Borgia returned in triumph to Rome from Romagna, on Jan. l7, l50l… New bicycle race "Tour de France" announced, on Jan. l9, l903…  John McEnroe became the 1st ever expelled from Australian Open for throwing tantrum and swearing at official, on Jan. 2l, l990...  World's largest oil spill, caused by embattled Iraqi forces in Kuwait, on Jan. 23, l99l.

MILESTONES.  Jun Aluad, Noel Cabrera, Dorai Ganesan,  Leonardo Gorospe Sr., Agnes Sanchez,  Dana Santilla – Jan. l8;  Joselyn Cago, Canuto Gregorio, Arlene Tipon Rosal, Vilma Verosil, Remedios Wong – Jan. l9;  Soledad Costales, Mylene Quiambao,  Evelyn Renon, Mhel Salvador – Jan. 20;  Melford Lapada, Analiza Pascua,  Rosemarie Seda, Celia Soh – Jan. 2l;   Ferdinand Alejo, Charmaine Asegurado, Marina Dombi, Jane  Riddin Gorospe, Danilo Mendiola, Rita Raquino,  Shaila Zamora – Jan. 22;  Tykes Chan, Francisco Corpuz,  Brenda Gorospe,  Meynard Gorospe, Teresa Lantaro - Jan. 23.

JOKES.  A man was explaining to a friend how he managed to get home the previous night. "I was doing fine until I turned into my driveway," he said. "And then what happened?" "Someone stepped on my hands!" Friars Jokes…  Three dreams of a man:  To be as handsome as his mother thinks.  To be as rich as his child believes.  To have as many women as his wife suspects.

FEEDBACK. “I appreciate your publishing the e-mail addresses of your subsidiary companies. You should also include a one sentence description of their business orientation and activity.” Ivan Korcak, Czech Republic… “I’ll be in Manila February l3-l5.  Will finalize my commitment in your Adopt A Scholar Program.” Tom Clark, UK… More comments from:  Willy Thijs - Belgium;  Jørgensen Mads Maymann - Denmark;   Mary Ann Castillo - France;  Katlyn Horvat – Hungary;  Dorai Ganesan – India; Alifah Ria – Indonesia;  Brendz Toloza – Israel; Richard Wee – Singapore;  Tanja Drobnic – Slovenia; Vangie Alconis, Tereso Ugalino – USA.

LIGHTER  SIDE.  A man in Delaware, USA, broke into a house, got drunk and couldn't make his way back outside--so he called 911 for help. John Finch, 44, was trapped in the home in part because he'd broken into it before. That led the homeowner to change the locks so that a key was required--even inside.  No one was home when Finch broke in again. - fpg@rn