A Man who spent $20,000 a night in MGM Hotel in Vegas: Who is He?

[Babnoy]

Hmmm...hulaan nyo nga kung sino tong taong to...



A heavyweight secret the Philippines can't afford


Posted 02:25am (Mla time) Mar 23, 2005
By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page A22 of the Mar. 23, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, United States of America -- There's a wonder-of-the-world sleeping place inside the vast MGM Grand gambling kingdom that's fit only for the richest among the rich.

It's royal price tag -- $20,000 a night -- could make even Imelda Marcos, during the height of the dictatorship, think twice before checking in.

Let's call it the One-Million-Peso suite, although it's a lot more elegant, spacious, truly expensive than the ordinary presidential suites occupied by national leaders on official visits.

It's not only big, it's immense, occupying a total of 12,000 square feet of floor space.

It's not available to the plain rich.

Even the members of the rich-and-the-famous will have to be screened if they ever dare stay there.

* * *

Welcome to the MGM Grand Villa 1, a monument to opulence.

The place, as could only be expected, has its own swimming pool, a front garden, and other amenities available only to the biggest spenders this side of paradise.

Only the boldest of big spenders would dare check into the place.

Anyway, I started asking about the features of the villa after getting a tip that it was rented in the few days leading to the Erik Morales-Manny Pacquiao fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here last Saturday.

Why don't you make a guess ("Hulaan mo?"), dared a journalist friend, who got the identity of the very special guest from a Filipino staffer of the hotel's VIP reservation section.

I was given five chances to name the mysterious guest.

* * *

Manny Pacquiao himself, I said. Maybe MGM had agreed to reward him with a royal stay in recognition of his popularity and drawing power.

No, said this journalist friend, Pacquiao stays in a simple $1,000-a-day suite on the 18th floor, courtesy of MGM.

Mike Tyson, he was seen banging the VIP reservation door one early morning, with a young, shapely friend in tow.

Cannot be, Iron Mike is bankrupt.

I can't think of anybody. Bill Gates is not around.

Here, he's a Filipino, said our reluctant informer.

* * *

Wow, a Filipino? You mean somebody from our poor nation can afford to throw P1 million a night? Incredible.

Another hint, please.

He's a heavyweight backer of Pacquiao.

Chavit Singson, I said, because I had seen the fellow walk into the lobby of MGM in a brown leather jacket.

No, he's a lot, lot bigger than Chavit, besides, no Ilocano in his right mind would squander a million bucks for a sleeping place.

Is he a congressman, one of those who came here to root for Pacquiao?

No, he's a lot bigger than all those solons.

Mayor Lito Atienza, I also saw him around in his regular colorful shirt.

No, Mayor Atienza would rather spend big money to beautify his city.

But why would this big guest spend P1 million just for a room?

Maybe he did not spend his own money. Maybe one sleek operator, who leans on him for big-money deals, rented the room?

* * *

I gave up. I just couldn't think of any Filipino who could afford a P1-million-a-night hotel suite.

Well, he's no ordinary fellow, my informer said.

Can I just inquire with the desk who this terrific Pinoy is?

No way. In the first place, the villa is something they don't advertise.

Why?

It's very exclusive, very private.

So how would I be able to rent the room if, say, the Sultan of Brunei asks me to register for him?

You have to contact the MGM director of luxury sales.

* * *

My informer offered to disclose the name of this great guest, but only if his name is not published.

But why should the name of this guest not be made public? He should be proud of his status.

Oh no, it would be very damaging.

What do you mean? Why would sleeping in a P1-million-a-night suite be damaging?

For an answer, my friend whispered in my ears the initials of the mysterious guest.

Bang! Indeed, baring the name of this big, big spender would be a political bombshell.

So you really want to know who the guy is?

Sorry, I'm not at liberty to print the initials whispered in my ears. It's secret.

Just the same, I've saved the text message of a congressman friend who wondered if I could join him at the villa for dinner.

My solon friend has named the villa occupants.

It's an extremely expensive secret the Philippines can't afford.

But what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

[BlueBimmer]

i nominate 1st gentleman Mike Arroyo wakekeke

[nugundam93]

omg. impeach?

[qman]

sabi ng abs cbn si erap yan o si jinggoy

[BlueBimmer]

dpat lng! well if it IS him, but malay mo he spent his own money? hahaha

[BlueBimmer]

erap pumunta pala? alam ko c jinggoy pumunta

[nugundam93]

sana nga it's his own money. kasi kung public money yan, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

biruin mo, we do our best to earn a living, we get taxed A LOT and where do they get used for? for sleeping in hotels? deym. kung ganyan din lang ng ganyan, i might as well apply for tax exemption. haha.

gutom na ako. gotta grab some grub before i leave the office.

[ILuvDetailing]

diba nasa hospital si erap?

[budakdak]

eh sino nga ba? spit it out please. wag ka mag alala Babnoy kasi, "what happens in Tsikot, stays in Tsikot" :lurk:

[caloyski5]

ako rin mike arroyo..second si jinggoy

[kuroy]

inaamin ko na ako iyang tinutukoy sa blind item na iyan...

nag-iwan naman ako ng tip sa suites bago ako nag checkout. $10 tingin ko ayos ng tip iyon.

[shadow]

wala ng iba kundi si FG mike arroyo.....

[wilcats]

whatta waste of money...

[rukawa]

mike arroyo

[empy]

hens.

[CaRGirL]

hmmm...

mike arroyo??

[sequoia]

jose pidal !!!

[falken]

AFAIK, Mike and Iggy Arroyo were there, so my guess is it's either one of them.

[birdkiper]

Mike Arroyo, eh kung hindi ba naman asawa ng presidente yan, baket kailangan itago? and who knows baka naman discounted say 70% discount.:-)

[GlennSter]

sa tingin niyo ganun ka tanga si mike arroyo para gumasta nang ganun?

nagtatanong lang.hindi ko siya pinagtatanggol ha!herhehrehr

iwanted o think na estrada yan...kung arroyo yan..ewan ko na lang talaga.