Our mantra for the week: “As I release my negative yesterdays, my positive tomorrows begin to unfold today.”
I believe that every human being, in the deepest recesses of his/her heart and mind, desires to help humanity in some way.
There are those, of course, who have done this in a big way by using their God-given talents like Albert Einstein, Jesus of Nazareth, Siddhartha Gautama, Mahatma Gandhi, Marie Curie, Helen Keller, Sarah Bernhardt, Amelia Earhart and Phineas Quimby.
But ordinary mortals, with the God Presence within each one, can help humanity in ways like the following:
1) Supporting the practice of kindness for kindness is a child of Love. As we do this, we create a ripple effect, bringing peace wherever we go.
2) Accept people as they are because it breaks down walls and, in turn, builds bridges.
3) Help others succeed, for in doing so, we create in ourselves a success consciousness and attract the same at every instance.
4) Empower, encourage and embolden others to dare and dream.
5) Help those in need by helping them stand on their own feet, making sure they don’t become parasites.
6) Support the development of projects that benefit the public.
7) Give generously to causes that uplift humanity.
8) Protect, preserve and pass on all teachings of self-love and love of others.
9) Love and cherish the environment by promoting cleanliness, growth and the preservation of our ecology.
10) Practice tithing to a spiritual organization or individual where one gets his/her extra-mundane inspiration.
11) And, most of all, underscore the God power within each person to create greater good in the world.
Fil-Italian star
Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Roscigno and wife Agnes hosted a special cocktail reception at their residence in Dasmariñas Village, Makati, to honor Dr. Raul M. Sunico and confer upon him the award of “Commendatore in the Order of the Star of Italy.”
The award is given to non-Italians who have merited a special recognition for promoting mutually beneficial cultural exchanges between two countries.
Raul is truly deserving of this prestigious award. Among those who attended the reception were Jimmy Laya, Tina Turalba, Danny Dolor, Ado Escudero, Olga Martel, Catherine Huang, Rupert and Tina Jacinto, Martin Lopez, Rachelle Gerodias, Dr. David Lim and Lourdes Montinola.
Prague photog’s exhibit
The Alliance Francaise de Manille and Embassy of Czech Republic to the Philippines, in partnership with the Embassy of France to the Philippines, recently presented Prague photographer Jirí Turek’s “cityLOVE.”
Turek has held exhibits in London, Berlin, Venice, Paris, and now in Makati at Alliance Francaise in Bel-Air II.
He studied at the Institute of Artistic Photography in Prague, and started his career as a photojournalist accompanying President Vaclav Havel in his international visits.
The show will run until April 14. Go and visit, you’ll love it.
MovEd benefit
On Tuesday, March 21, Philippine Tatler, with Raffles and Fairmont Makati, promises an evening of fun, with delectable food and fine drinks in the company of like-minded people with mutual interests, in a benefit organized by MovEd (Molding Optimism and Values through Education).
This organization aims “to provide quality early education for preschool students in marginalized communities, believing that a child is at his/her learning peak from 3 to 6 years of age.”
I would like to add that psychologists have shown that, from ages 1 to 5, attitudes of children are formed and carried into adulthood.
MovEd’s board of trustees, headed by Fernando Zobel de Ayala, includes Susana Madrigal, Alexandra Madrigal Eduque, Fely Atienza, Isabel Martel Francisco, Karen Davila and Dr. Emilio Yap III.
See you there, and don’t forget to bring P5,000 or more that you are most happy to contribute to education—knowing that, one day, these kids can become as educated and generous as you.
A room like a giant donut
The gracious Helen Ho Delgado allowed the board of Trustees of Philippine Ballet Theater, of which she is a member, to use her palatial Forbes Park home—still unfinished palatial home after three years of remodeling and reconstruction—“because I am my own contractor and I want to take my sweet time so I can get in all my ideas…”
This is Helen’s second house, also in Forbes, that she shares with husband Robbie.
As she toured us around, I lost count of how many sitting rooms we had already passed. One unforgettable spot was what she called Robbie’s conference room, featuring a 30-seater round table that looked like a giant donut with armchairs surrounding it.
A donut, I thought to myself… Is this perhaps a clue that this room is reserved for things you do not and cannot say in public?
Another thing, the room is so large, they will probably have to use their mobile phones to text or call and, therefore, every meeting can be considered a teleconference.
Globetrotting equestrienne
It was such a pleasure to have the beautiful equestrienne champion Michelle Barrera as a dinner seatmate and to find out she does not only train horses excellently, but is also a Marketing and Psychology graduate.
She also owns and operates Cucina de Michiquita that produces the most sumptuous cupcakes. She is now abroad doing her second favorite thing, which is globetrotting.
J. Romero turns 58
Marilou Kahn Magsaysay, director of the advertising company J. Romero and Associates, has spearheaded its reorganization as it celebrates its 58th year as the oldest Philippine advertising and promotions company.
That’s a truly auspicious number because, in the Book of Changes, the hexagram 58 stands for The Joyous.
J. Romero has moved offices to the 3rd and 4th floors of the Green Sun Hotel on Chino Roces Avenue Ext., Makati City, with a spectacular view of Dasmariñas Village and the Makati skyline.
The new members of J. Romero’s board of directors are Emily Abrera, Paolo Ortigas, Joey Santamaria, Betina Legarda, Marilou Kahn Magsaysay, Denise Romero and Noli Agcaoili. Ortigas has been elected chair and Santamaria is acting president.
New Italian restaurant
Edi Tekeli, the man who brought the fashion brand Mango to the Philippines, is now back in business as a restaurateur with the recent opening of his Italian restaurant, Paper Moon Manila, at the Knightsbridge Residences. We did not notice any mango dishes in his menu.
A House in disorder
A House in Manila, although located in Taguig, is busy straightening out a little disorder, when one of its founding members called out one of its guests, through an e-mail, about her posting a photo taken during a get-together with another member of this very “exclusive” samahan.
The talk in the Spanish-speaking community is that the guest’s tycoon husband reacted quite strongly to what he perceived was not only improper, but downright offensive; supongo pues que el tiene mucho Razon.
