YOUR mantra for the week: “My happiness is supreme because I make sure I share kindnesses.”
A philosopher once said, “There are three things one must practice to live a fulfilled life: one is to be kind; two is to be kind; three is to be kind.”
Here are more acts of kindness, continued from the first five that I wrote in my column last Nov. 22:
6) Constant patience. Most people have yet to develop this quality because we are all short of it. We get impatient about everything including traffic on the road, the incapacity of others to keep up with the speed and the way we want things done. Being patient does not mean making yourself a martyr—otherwise you might end up being a patient.
7) Good manners and right conduct are not only associated with kindness, they will also propel us to better positions in life. There are many who are intelligent but whose ill manners and improper conduct have obstructed their upward climb to success.
8) The importance of Thoughtfulness. There is an old song called “Little Things Mean a Lot,” and truly they do mean a lot—remembering birthdays, special occasions, sending little love notes, texting uplifting words, or even just smiling. Many years ago, I wrote a thank-you note to a waiter at the Hotel InterContinental’s Jeepney Bar where Elvira Manahan and friends would stay up till wee hours, night after night. Twenty years later, I bumped into the waiter, now a supervisor, and he said, “Mr. Sison, the thank-you note you wrote me is still in my wallet which I carry with me all the time because it serves as an inspiration to give good service.”
9) Turning the other cheek is a biblical quote that cannot be taken literally because, if you do, it would be ridiculous. The statement is simply saying that when somebody does something negative to you, you are to return the act with something positive—that is truly turning the other cheek.
10) Joyful Tithing is giving 10 percent of all monies that pass through you to an individual or organization in spiritual work where you find your spiritual inspiration. There are many religions that do not teach this, but you are free to try it and you will find out that it is the kindest thing you can do for yourself. It is truly the Prosperity Secret of the Ages because it connects you with the One Source of all that is good. Dr. Catherine Ponder, world-renowned author, says: “If you do not give voluntarily of your financial resources, you can expect that body ailments, financial entanglements, human relation problems and general confusion in your affairs will follow.”
There is a new song I heard recently that says, “And maybe we’ll find true peace of mind, if we always remember we can be kind.”
Rupert’s ‘Faaabvlous VI’
Last Wednesday evening at the Manila Peninsula, society photographer Rupert Jacinto— described by the Washington Post as the Photographer to the Fabulous—launched his sixth Faaab book after the super successes of his first five. At the same time, Rupert is celebrating his 38th year as a portrait photographer.
I met Rupert in 1976 when he owned and ran a photography shop at the InterCon called Photokina. He was, at that time, taking pictures for covers of major magazines like Mr. and Ms. where once, my sister Marla and I were his subjects.
We became close friends. One day, in one of our kidding around sessions, I suggested that maybe he should make a blow-up version of his photographs to sizes similar to those of portraits in oil. I really thought this would be a good idea considering portraits in oil did cost a lot and a large photograph of oneself could be a more reasonable substitute.
He liked the idea and asked who he could photograph as an experiment. I naturally thought of my mother Priscilla, who was not only beautiful but also a fashion icon and belonged to the hall of fame of the best-dressed women in the country.
So I called my mom and asked whether she would consider posing for my friend Rupert. Her customary question was, “Is he any good?”
I assured her that he did take good photographs and that she didn’t have to make any special preparation for it. All she had to do was to be her well-groomed self, as shown in her photograph in this column with her French poodle, Cognac, taken in 1977. It was never exhibited until decades later as a tribute to her.
However, Rupert took another photograph of her for his first exhibit, “Fifteen Women,” which featured 15 ladies from de Buena familia like Elvira Manahan, Chito Madrigal and Chona Kasten.
The idea took Manila society by storm and thus made it easy for Rupert to find other clients from the so-called Manila’s 400, which led to his show in 1979.
Oligarchy
And speaking of 400, let me explain that it does not really refer to the exact number of members of Manila’s elite society. The number was first used in ancient Athens to describe the oligarchy that ruled the populace.
The oligarchy was what Marcos wanted to eliminate when he declared Martial Law in 1972. He succeeded, and so even the character of Manila society changed its face. High society became the blue ladies, the blue boys, his Cabinet, the cronies, the Batasan members, some generals and their wives, and had a sprinkling of members of the old society who wanted to protect their wealth.
For the next 11 years, Rupert held exhibits in five major cities in the United States as well as in Japan and France.
In 1991, Rupert returned to Manila with an expanded Manila society including those who had accumulated wealth during the Martial Law years.
By the late ’90s, when the Philippine government had already began recovering from bankruptcy caused by the Marcos dictatorship, Manila society extended its arms to include families whom I refer to as the “binuenas na familia.”
Members of these families used their talents, business acumen, innate industry and imagination to lift themselves up to social prominence. Some of them are have achieved world recognition through their exceptional abilities and services given through cultural and humanitarian means. Many, too, became super wealthy.
So far Rupert has taken almost 4,000 portraits; so we can say that Manila’s 400 has expanded to Metro Manila’s 4,000. However, his portraits also include prominent socialites worldwide, not to mention Spanish royalty, and that is why people desire to have a portrait by Jacinto.
15 women
On Nov. 25 at the Upper Gallery of the Manila Peninsula, the “Faaabvlous VI” portrait exhibition opened with guests of honor headed by German Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Ossowski and former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican Bienvenido Tantoco, Sr., assisted by the two cover ladies, Nonie Basilio, an accomplished socio-civic leader with a golden heart, and Anna Sia, a successful entrepreneur with a winning formula.
At 7:30, 250 elegant guests filled the Rigodon Ballroom for the charity gala dinner. All were in their black-and-white best— the requested theme colors of the night.
Before dinner was served, “Faaabvlous VI” was launched featuring Teresa de Guzman, Marissa Fenton, Lynette Guzman, Princess Allie Jaafar, Jessica Maloles, Marilou Ong, Elsie Pascua, Sheila Romero, Joy Rustia (who was voted Faaabvlous Woman of the Night), Anna
Santos, Nora Sol, Manolyne Taylor, Virma Vergel de Dios, Chuchi Villar and Prescy Yulo, as well as Ossowski, Gil Bien, Mario Muralla, Luis Posadas, Jon Meer Vera Perez, Kenneth Cobonpue, Jack Noh, Johnny Yu. All awardees received a beautiful glass trophy with a top shaped like diamond.
The evening was full of raffle surprises for charity from generous donors; the gorgeous DJ Lopez, with just two tickets, won two major awards.
The dinner lived up to its claim of fabulous as supervised by the first lady of the evening, Tina Jacinto. The incomparable Johnny Litton was emcee.
Jon Meer Vera Perez, Miguel Castro and Bernice Reyes sang accompanied by a band led by Danny Favis, who also played dance music till past midnight.
Metro Manila’s 4,000 are made up of the old rich, the new rich and the plain rich. Unfortunately, there is something that does not automatically come with money—and that is breeding, which is an inner process. A person with good breeding is wealthier even with minimum finances. Now that is truly remarkable.
