Helen Ong: Thank you to members of my funds club | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

Joy Rustia, Carolyn Tan, Einee Cragun, Mayor Arlene Arcilla, Duday Tuason
Joy Rustia, Carolyn Tan, Einee Cragun, Mayor Arlene Arcilla, Duday Tuason

Your mantra for the week: “When I love, no fear can touch me.”

 

Last week, I wrote about the most important love of all. Now I am sharing the results of a private survey on how people would like to be treated by a partner they would describe and call “ideal.”

 

The following will characterize their partner’s qualities:

 

1) A companion who is kind, considerate and loving.

 

2) An intimate who can treat the other with respect and unconditional acceptance.

 

3) A mate who is receptive to one’s wishes, goals and dreams.

 

4) A lover who will make one feel special and cherished.

 

5) A partner who is happy to cheer one on in one’s successes and achievements.

 

6) A companion who is open and honest.

 

7) An amore who is connected in heart, mind, body and soul.

 

Dreaming of this kind of partner is possible, especially if we can extend these qualities to ourselves first—for when we do, the law of attraction goes to work and promises the best results.

 

Unfortunately, there are very few who have been able to direct this kind of lovingness to themselves. But as we approach the Age of Aquarius in which Universal Love reigns, you will find that the numbers will grow and, one day, will dominate the world.

 

Spectacular show

 

Helen Ong, event chair of Philippine Cancer Society’s “Best Dressed Women of the Philippines” delivered a spectacular show this year.

 

It was previously scheduled  at Okada Manila but, due to unforeseen circumstances, was moved to Shangri-La at the Fort last week. More than 800 people, dressed to the nines, sat for dinner at the hotel’s grand ballroom.

 

There were rows of exquisite candelabras flickering like fireflies over the classy floral arrangements that adorned each table, not to mention the splendid chandelier that lit the ballroom to perfection.

 

The evening’s program began with a cocktail reception, with the enlarged photographs of the 16 awardees displayed at close range, along with photos of the “Men of Influence.”

 

At 7:30 p.m., as the ballroom’s doors opened and guests walked in, the stunning voice of opera singer Kathy Mas singing “Nessun Dorma” and “O Sole Mio” was heard.

 

Program host Johnny Litton introduced Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) chair Antonio Ma. Guerrero, followed by Ong who welcomed the guests in her resplendent Amir Sali gown.

 

PCS board member Agnes Huibonhoa, striking in her Albert Andrada creation, took over to introduce this year’s Men of Influence that included Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, property president of City of Dreams Geoff Andres, environment advocate and TV host Kim Atienza, chief legal counsel Sal Panelo, Landmasters CEO Jose Soberano III, Megaworld’s Kevin Tan, Phoenix Petroleum CEO Dennis Uy, Yuson Investments CEO Fred Yuson and Sen. Migz Zubiri.

Agnes Huibonhoa, Helen Ong, Antonio Ma. Guerrero

An auction was held, with the irrepressible Litton presiding, while the guests enjoyed the delectable dishes prepared by Shangri-La chef Joris Rycken.

 

Of the three items, a stem cell procedure package from Bad Salzhausen was won by Dr. Archie Tan; an Orlina glass sculpture was acquired by Dette Tan, and an art piece by Davao painter Kublai went to Czarina Camus.

Jose Soberano III, Sen. Migz Zubiri, Fred Yuson, Dennis Uy

Main event

 

The evening’s main event promptly began at dessert time, with Joy Rustia, in an elegant gown by new designers Roma and Paul, introducing one of the Style Icons of 2017, Milo Bondoc.

 

And then Mags Cue made known the second Style Icon, Sharee Ann Tan.

 

Next, the 14 Best Dressed Ladies of 2017 walked on the ramp, showing off their personal styles: Annabel Braganza, Maria Victoria Burgos, Yamani Caliwara, Ruby Tan Chua, Jennie Diaz, Veronica Ho, Rosemarie Licup, Nina Paula Ng, Brenda Ngo, Katrina Ponce-Enrile (with parents Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and Cristina lending support), Katz Montealegre-Santos, Minerva Steiner, Robina Marie Ko-Tan and Jennifer Tieng.

Minerva Steiner
Yamani Caliwara

One could tell that each awardee relished those minutes when they were traipsing up and down, confident that they were truly the best dressed.

 

Out of kindness, I will not mention those who I believe should not have been there, but they can always come back and say that it is my bad taste. So be it… but, I must say, they all added to the evening’s merriment and festivities.

 

The program ended with raffle prizes donated by persons and companies in support of PCS.

 

Ong has been doing this for the past 15 years. She truly deserves plaudits for this year’s exemplary presentation, not to mention the millions that she has raised for PCS, which assists the cancer-stricken.

 

She concluded the event with a grateful smile on her face and quipped, “Thank you for all the support that I have received from the many generous members of my funds club.”

 

Barbarians

 

In lawyer Joel Butuyan’s Inquirer opinion column recently, he said, “Every fraternity is a Brotherhood of Barbarians.”

 

How truly ironic, because when I was studying Philosophy at the University of the Philippines, anyone who was not a member of a fraternity was called a barbarian. I guess this was the way to make it attractive to be a frat “brod.”

 

The frat men would strut around the campus as if to say, you are nothing unless you are one of us. Judging from these personalities, I promised myself that I would always stay a “barbarian,” although I must admit it was rather tempting because many of my friends then were most eager to join.

 

My deepest condolences to the Castillo family who lost University of Santo Tomas freshman law student Horacio Castillo III to frat hazing rites. Your consolation is that your loss could one day be the catalyst that would get rid of “frat brats” from reigning in the campuses of our educational institutions.

 

Maybe, finally, people would realize that true comradeship comes from the hearts of those who would like to spread goodwill and harmony and build a kinship in one’s community, instead of fostering groups whose leaders take the positions of dictators and the rest of the members have to practice blind acceptance.

 

At last, from us “barbarians” in school, the real barbarians have been recognized.

 

E-mail the columnist: [email protected]

 

 

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