Without Batting An Eyelash
Big business gives to Visayas, Mindanao schoolchildren
By Maurice ArcachePhilippine Daily Inquirer
FORTUNE Life president Arnold Cabangon; Fortune Life executive vice president Evelyn Carada; Education Secretary Armin Luistro; Fortune Life chair and founder Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua; Marylinbert president and CEO Linda Legaspi and husband Albert Rosal
Fortune Life recently marked the second anniversary of its advocacy, “The Value of Hard Work and Discipline.”
The trés charmant Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, chair and founder of Fortune Life, and Evelyn Carada, EVP and GM, welcomed the invitees led by Education Secretary Armin Luistro and Undersecretary Yolanda Quijano.
AWARDEES Amcy Esteban, Benzon German, Edna Madrid, Rosanilia Saludo, Lino Inovero,with singer Jessa Zaragoza (third from left)
“I am extremely happy to see that my former student back in La Salle, Arnold Cabangon, now the president of Fortune Life, is walking the talk on hard work and discipline, inspiring students to persevere and save for their future,” said Luistro.
Recognition was given to five “exceptionally good advocacy implementors,” who showed their support and complete dedication to the program: Amcy Esteban, Benzon German, Rosanilia Saludo, Lino Inovero and Edna Madrid, all educators.
Head-turner Jessa Zaragoza, wearing an electric-blue terno, stole the spotlight with her rendition of “Pangako,” Fortune Life’s signature song, written by Chit Mijares-Chua of ABC Productions, palanggas. The song is supposed to embody the company’s “strong commitment of excellent service to all its policyholders.”
MIGUEL Pastor, Malou Araneta- Romero, Nicole Whishenhunt, Camille Ongpauco, Peaches Buendia, Trisha Calma, Ben Chan
Receiving a standing ovation was Arnold, who expressed commitment to continue distributing for free some 45,000 activity books to selected schools in Visayas and Mindanao, dahlings.
He was followed by his brother Jun Cabangon who said that Fortune Line will be holding small gatherings where our top couturiers, beauty queens and fashion stylists will be giving lessons and seminars on personality development and makeovers for educators and teachers.
Marylindbert president and CEO Linda Legaspi and husband, lawyer Albert Rosal, were there, too. “Now, isn’t this putting a big heart in the heart of success… Fortune Life’s real key to its fortune!’” said Linda.
We totally agree. Bravo!
Feast of accessories
“Objets D’ Art” was a trés exclusive one-day-only must-see happening that was the brainchild of highly respected accessory designers Nicole Whisenhunt and Malou Romero.
CELINE Gabriel-Lim and Andrea Martel of Gabriel*Martel
Held at One Rockwell Tower’s East Function Room, it showcased the country’s “most desirable and fanciful objects by a wide range of talented artists that embody culture, style and originality,” as its handlers said.
This annual event is a brilliant effort to encourage growth in the Philippine design industry. “It supports local artists in the fields of jewelry, furniture and the arts,” explained Celine Gabriel Lim, one of the featured designers. Together with her design partner, Gabriel Martel, she has been making waves in New York’s fashion world with her brand Andrea Martel, no less, dahlings.
Alongside the talented designers, there were contemporary visual artists that exhibited their work: Maxine Syjuco (photographs and paintings) and Jia Santos Estrella (hand-painted furniture).
In fact, one of the main highlights was the exhibit of the art gallery Artinformal, which presented sculptures, paintings, pottery, light boxes, and loads of other forms of artwork by Erwin Leano, Wesley Valenzuela, Jonas Eslao, Dan Raralio, John Santos, Marina Cruz, Sandra Fabie-Gfeller, palanggas.
(More info? Go to info@arcarpopr.com.)
Tod’s signature collection
ARTISTS Juvenal Sansó and Betsy Westerndorp, Lourdes R. Montinola, Techi Velasquez
Pure luxury and refinement has always been the essence of world-renowned brand, Tod’s, dahlings.
For the new season, the Tod’s Signature Collection was presented during a very light and healthy lunch at the awesome presidential suite of the Peninsula Manila.
Stylish Flora Lee, senior PR associate of Tod’s for the Asia-Pacific, jetted in from Hong Kong for the launch.
On the runway, models displayed Tod’s classic semi-opaque nappa, shiny calfskin and ultra-soft sheep skin with a suede effect in different shapes and sizes: the iconic shoulder bag, a portfolio clutch, a small trunk style, a two-size shopper, a bauletto, a soft envelope clutch and a pochette.
Romanza II exhibit
Multitalented personality Marivic Rufino’s new painting series, “Romanza II,” consisting of luminous, exquisite dreamscapes, was unveiled to hearty applause at the Peninsula Manila Gallery, dahlings.
WASHINGTON Sycip, Marivic and Tony Rufino
The artist’s 17th solo exhibit was originally presented by the Philippine Embassy in Spain in Museo de Antropologia in Madrid last June to celebrate José Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary. Now the exhibit is being shown to Cosmo Manille art lovers and collectors.
The new series featured another dimension of Rufino’s art: “experimental collages in shimmering new artworks inspired by Spain, and a kind soft art: screen divider, furniture, butterflies bags, pillows and delicate lamps,” Marivic said at the opening of her show.
Guests of honor were Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario; National Artist for the Visual Arts Arturo Luz and National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario; international artists Juvenal Sansó and Betsy Westendorp; and Washington Sycip. Members of the diplomatic corps were also present, natch!
Proceeds of the art show will go to the St. Mary’s House in Tagaytay.
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Tags: Antonio Cabangon Chua , Fortune Life , Marivic Rufino , Mindanao , schoolchildren , “Objets D’ Art”
