LT's is very secretive that is why a lot of speculations come out about his condition every so often.
A lot of people feel that his business empire will crumble if he goes. About time for a lot of people look for new jobs: that includes PAL people.
The thing with LT is he doesn't have a clear successor unlike Gokongwei who has Lance who is a very competent heir.
LT has sired several children from several wives (this man is rumored to have 80 concubines!!!) who all have ambitions to his business empire, as proded by their respective mothers.
These children unfortunately hate each other, being out of different mothers.
A Chinese friend confided to me that one of LT's sons, who is being groomed for an important position, said that the lady pilot daughter of LT is nothing because she is from another family. Of course all of them are anyway, according to my friend: it depends on who the King (LT himself) prefers.
But this lady pilot has nevetheless shown us lessons in humility & determination in persuing a career in the airline by going thru the ranks starting from the AV-school. She might be a strong contender to run the airline in the future if the king will be around, accdg again to my friend.
One of LT's sons in his 30's has shown some interest in a career in the airline but dismissed it outright when he saw for himself that it was no joke flying the 737 sim in Nichols. His son from the original wife is actually about 50 years old now but has no clear influence.
The King's fear when he goes is that his children will be alienated from his vast business empire & mucho dinero by none other than his business leiutenants & senior advisers.
A year ago, the king was reported to have contracted hepatitis & had to go here in the US for an extensive treatment.
He must have contracted this illness from his very active sex life (man he is in his 70's) accdg to doctors who attend to him.
A Chinese doctor in Manila confided that LT has been warned time and again to use condoms when he shags women because he is never sure where the boyfriends of these lovely young Chinese ladies been.
Would you believe that the king has a new child just about 2-3 years old now?
When the king was young, a geomancer in his native land predicted that more the wives he has, the bigger his business empire will be (man, we must be in the wrong religion!!!!!).
The libido of the king is legendary. He is reported to interrupt meetings (tells his executives to wait for 1 - 2 hours-->>short time ikanga), takes the helicopter to one of his ladies & comes back to continue the meetings.
He develops a terrible terrible headache if he cannot shag; then he cannot work.
Another Chinese friend also opines that the King can never give the salary that other employers give because he has a heavy overhead cost: in short, bribe money. He needs this overhead to survive & advance his business empire which has been his way for a long long time now.
It is also news from my Chinese friends that the king's brother Mariano has been calling the shots lately about the increase in PAL. Several retired PAL pilots who act as LT's consultants have recommended pay increases directly to the king but were utterly disappointed when the brother shots them down straight: nag-mamarunong daw (pretends to be a know it all).
