The golden age of radio may be over, but a tidy sum can still be squeezed from a properlyrun broadcast operation.

The year still has nearly four months to run its course, but Manila Broadcasting Corp. is already confident of surpassing its 2009 income and revenue record, after reporting that its first-half revenues jumped to nearly P486 million from P315 million in the same period last year.

First-half profit, though slim when compared to other industries, tripled to P25.5 million from the P8.2 million in January to June 2009.

No wonder, dzRH’s Elpidio “Deo” Macalma can afford to take two-hour buffet lunches at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza these days.

Vice President Jejomar Binay gave the City of Pines his own version of holiday economics by spending the weekend in the summer capital with his extended family and staying at the Baguio Country Club.

The fraying Cebu Midtown will be refurbished shortly, with the Midtown brand dropped altogether in favor of the snazzier Summit Hotel.

The Hong Kong-based Palmerston Hotels & Resorts is unfazed by the current emotionally-charged atmosphere between the Chinese territory and the Philippines, saying it is on track to start construction of a luxury hotel complex in Boracay, adjoining Fairways and Bluewater golf course, in early 2011.

It was actually Smart chief wireless adviser Orlando “Doy” Vea and his wife who flew to Hong Kong last weekend, not his brother, Mapua president Reynaldo Vea, as reported in this space last Monday.

Also spotted in the former British colony over the same weekend trying to keep a low profile was former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa, accompanied by his family.

Mapua president Reynaldo Vea and a lady companion braved the emotionally-charged atmosphere in Hong Kong, flying into the Chinese territory Friday afternoon despite a massive rally being mobilized on Sunday against the Philippine government.

A group of four ticketed passengers are entitled to four airline seats, right? Not necessarily.

Despite already having paid for their airfares, three out of a family of four decided to forego their weekend trip to Hong Kong in deference to the territory’s sensibilities triggered by Monday’s tragedy.

One contrarian out of the four decided to go anyway, so as not to totally waste the small fortune handed to Cathay Pacific.

Instead of having the entire row to himself, the lone ranger found to his surprise the three adjoining seats occupied by other passengers.

It certainly was not a great way to start a flight.

ABC 5 has decided to drop its plan to lease a 10-hectare property within the UP North Science and Technology Park after being forewarned that its planned state-of-the-art studio complex could become a target for pelting by militant students protesting the “commercialization” of state education.

The blog on hobbykings.com, a Web site dedicated for the trading of high-end US basketball cards, has a number of entries claiming that rogue Citibank Binondo officer Francis Bryan Ang was spending quite a fortune trading on the collectibles, using ‘attyball’ as handle.

Vy Tonne So, a brother-in-law of Metrobank chairman George Ty, has resigned his directorship in Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. to give way to former Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus.