Your mantra for the week:

“I am love… under all circumstances.”

 

 

 

Seek that beautiful kingdom of heaven within you and all things are added unto you. All your desires are brought forth to bring you greater joy, and the greatest gift is love.

 

Love is a decision

 

Love is all the beautiful things we say it is. But it is important to remember that love is really a decision—a decision to care, share and demonstrate kindness.

 

Today we find every reason to appreciate all those who have touched our lives. Those who were there when we needed encouragement; those who helped us dry our tears; those who assisted us in our healing; those who held our hands when we needed comfort; those who brought us laughter; those who have taught us and contributed to our success; those who stood by us in good times and in bad; even those who have hurt us, for they, too, had the gift of love, for they increased our understanding, our capacity to care, to know ourselves better, and to realize that each person has his uniqueness.

 

Appreciating our fellowmen contributes to our health and well-being, giving us vitality and strength. Appreciation prospers us beyond our fondest dreams. And lovingness opens the doors to harmony and greater blessings—for a decision to love is also a choice to forgive, to understand and to be patient.

 

Look around you and realize that all people are wonderful mirrors of you. Look closely and you will discover inherent goodness. Each one is also desiring what you need in life—love, nourishment, shelter, success and perfect self-expression.

 

Every person in your life is a potential channel of your goodness. Accept them for what they are and you, too, will be accepted just as you are. There is a place within you called the Kingdom of Heaven. When you go within and simply listen, that still, small voice will be heard and it will always uplift you when you are down, encourage you when you are feeling disappointed, help you dry your tears, hold your hands and bring you comfort.

 

Satire

 

This week I’m a bit nostalgic, remembering the days when how much fun it was to be the Conde de Makati without anyone knowing the Conde’s identity. There were speculations but they were all wrong.

 

Even my own father did not have the slightest idea who this mysterious columnist was, and it became especially intriguing because the column was called Social Climbing with the Conde de Makati.

 

I would run into my father at parties but he never suspected I could be the “culprit.” He even wrote to the Conde. When he finally discovered the truth, he “reprimanded” me and asked, “Why did you not tell me you were the Conde de Makati?” I simply answered, “You never asked.”

 

Here was his letter and my answers in parenthesis. I had such a good time doing this. For once he did not have the last say:

 

“My dear Conde de Makati,

 

“I just read you column on the so-called social climber who invited to her birthday party some people whom she did not know. This she was able to do by asking people she knew to invite the prominent people she did not know.

 

“Your piece on her was a masterpiece of satire and, thus, it was very unkind. In fact, it struck me as needlessly cruel.

 

“My dear Conde de Makati, would you please inform me why people in so-called society are so deprecatory about persons whom they judge as social climbers? (My dear Carling, I do think it would come as a surprise to you if I told you… that many of them… heaven knows, are still social climbing and probably because they are not convinced they truly belong and that they have really ‘made it.’ Those, on the other hand, who are more confident about their position in society, simply want to make it more difficult for those who are just beginning to climb. After all, exclusivity must be maintained at all costs). All of us, including you I’m sure, are climbing one way or the other. (You can bet all your millions on it).

 

“Some of us are trying to climb the ladder of power; others, the ladder of fame; still others, the ladder of financial success; the rest, the ladder of society. (You must forgive me, my dear Carling, if I find your distinctions a bit strained especially when one stops to consider that many of those who are trying to climb the ladder of power… are precisely those who are also desperately trying to climb the ladder of society and vice versa).

 

“As a matter of fact, the modest among us just try to climb the ladder of peace. To each his own ladder, I should say. So, why are you so hard on the so-called social climbers? (It’s the only way I know how to say Climb Down Man—there’s nothing up there but air… pollution). They are a nice lot and they harm no one. (Except for their children who may someday emulate them). In truth, they give many people enjoyable time. (Now, you are being satirical).

 

“And, sometimes, they are much nicer than your so-called society people who are afflicted with a mistaken sense of self-importance. (I could not agree with you more about those with a mistaken sense of self-importance but about social climbers being much nicer, I am very glad you said sometimes. How about most of the time)?

 

“If you must use your brilliant pen to improve our society, direct it against those who graft to achieve power, against those who’d cheat to gain financial success and against those who image-build for the sake of a hollow fame. (But Carling, I have written about many of your so-called friends).

 

“But, please leave the social climbers alone. (My editor has just turned down my letter of resignation). They are a lovable lot. (I agree wholeheartedly. What would I be without them!)

 

“Sincerely yours,

 

“(Sgd) Carlos Moran Sison

 

Modern family

 

One of my favorite people, Jesi Mendez, celebrated his birthday last Thursday with family and his new 22-year-old love Aurora. With them was Jesi’s former wife, Gina, and her new partner; and their two daughters with their respective loved ones. They are truly the modern family.

 

Everyone loves Jesi because he is convivial, generous to a fault and authentic. He has experienced sexuality in all its possibilities with naturalness sans fanfare.

 

I met him through Elvira Manahan when she gifted him with an astrological reading with me (that was my profession for seven years when martial law prohibited me from writing). Elvira is one of my all-time favorite human beings for her many sterling qualities.

 

This is one of them as described by the Conde:

 

“Elvira Manahan received 12 long-stemmed rosebuds from her ‘devotion,’ Tito, last Valentine. Accompanying it was a card that read, ‘In spite of everything, you are still my Valentine.’

 

Elvira laughed. ‘The card was well-deserved but I liked the flowers,’ she said.”

 

Lalique in Rustan’s

 

If you had everything and someone gave you a gift from Lalique, you would still appreciate it if good taste is your nature.

 

René Jules Lalique was a French glass designer known for his art creations in glass and crystal. His prolific imagination produced jewelry, chandeliers, vases, perfume bottles, clocks and even automobile hood ornaments.

 

He passed away in 1945 but his name lives on through a firm named after him. CEO Roger Von Der Weid is in town to introduce the latest of Lalique at Rustan’s. Leave it to Nedy Tantoco to choose only the best. The only thing better than Lalique is “la lick.”

 

Erratum

I stand corrected. Joe Guingona was married to Marilou Tuason and is now happily settled with Tina Delgado. My sincere apologies.