Your mantra for the week: “As I practice looking at what is right in my life, nothing goes wrong.”
This week, I am sharing an IAMIST prayer that’s great to live by. Many will label it as too idealistic—but what kind of life can anyone live fully without ideals?
Saying this prayer daily will remind us about man’s innate goodness and finally eradicate the concept of being a “sinner,” always remembering that we are all here to be winners:
“Whatever is yours to give, let generosity be your measure;
Whatever is yours to learn, let Infinite Intelligence be your counsel;
Whatever is yours to receive, let reciprocity be your goal;
Whatever is yours to understand, let compassion be your guide;
Whatever is yours to forgive, let Love be your healer.
Must-watch ballet
Last week, Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT) gave its first performance of “La Bayadere” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, had a matinee on Saturday afternoon, and a gala presentation that evening. Today, July 16, you can still catch its last performance at 3 p.m.
“La Bayadere” brings back the Royal India of long past, depicting the lives of two forlorn lovers amidst conspiracies and intrigues, and how true love becomes immortal.
Reunion dinner
Cory Quirino no longer holds the franchise to stage the Miss World beauty pageant. After the last coronation in Washington in which Australian-Filipino Catriona Gray landed in the Top 5, Quirino decided to let go due to changes in the rules.
Quirino was instrumental in giving the Philippines its first Miss World title through Megan Young, and the first runner-up through Gwendolyn Ruais.
Last week, Baby Cruz-Vazquez hosted a reunion dinner for Miss World beauties at her Urdaneta Apartments units. Cocktails were held in one apartment and dinner was served in a separate one.
The cocktails fare was really equivalent to a dinner: Baby’s to-crave-for San Daniele ham, chicken liver pâté with truffles, cheese platter, special salami basket, laing spanakopita, baked caviar and salted egg chips. They were all from Nana’s, Vasquez’s restaurant in Molito, Alabang.
She hosted this reunion because she was like a mother hen in the six years that Qurino ran the Miss World franchise.
I had delightful conversations with Zahra Bianca Saldua, Ross Misa, Vanessa Wright, Queenie Rehman, Mia Howell and Hilarie Parungao.
Among other notable guests who supported Quirino in her quest to bring international recognition to the beauty of Filipino women were Rod Cornejo, who featured the Miss World pageant on GMA 7; Dr. Greg Alvior, president of PGH Medical Foundation, one of the recipients of Miss World’s “beauty with a purpose” advocacy; Kenneth Lee, son of Paul Lee, a close friend of Julia Morley—the British businesswoman, charity worker and former model who offered Quirino the Miss World franchise.
During dinner, I was seated between Danny Vazquez—who was looking younger, healthier and happier after a year of marriage to Baby—and Panamanian Ambassador Rolando Alvarado, who is often kidded about his possibly having an “MBA” degree and they don’t mean a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, but rather, Married But Available.
He said, “I am very much married but my wife stays mostly in Panama, so I do the society scene solo most of the time.” Nevertheless, the MBA teasing continues.
E-mail the author at [email protected]. Listen to his “Positive Session” radio program on DWIZ 882 AM every Saturday, 9-10 p.m.
