Without batting an eyelash I accepted an invite to the Bulwagan ng Karunungan of the Department of Education for the fourth anniversary of Fortune Life Insurance’s Gintong Parangal para sa Literatura at Edukasyon awards, a program seeking to “impart good moral values to the youth,” according to the insurance firm’s drumbeaters.

 

Time stood still, as the hall tried to recreate the Hispanic-era Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Leave it to Glenda Barretto of Via Mare, palangga, to provide excellent reception for the affair. Of course, served was Ilocano empanada.

 

We were welcomed by Fortune GM and executive vice president Evelyn T. Carada, who wore an elegant black piña gown.

 

“The program is a tribute to the company’s sincere desire to inspire our youth today,” said Carada. “We want them to be rooted in proper values, not just to dream big, but to work hard to attain that dream, gain the right discipline, stay on course and focus on the goal.”

 

Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon-Chua, Fortune Life’s chair emeritus, nodded in agreement.

 

“I was once a bootblack, a shoeshine boy,” he told us, “but I never allowed [poverty] to hinder me from achieving my dreams and becoming who and what I wanted to be.

 

“My beloved mother taught me well the very essence of hard work and discipline, which paved the way for my success as an entrepreneur, public servant and family man.”

 

“The program is not only for the students but for the teachers as well. We want to give attention to the hardworking, underrated Filipino educator and the significance of the role they play in honing the youth,” said Linda Legaspi of Marylindbert International.

 

Helping the program was fashion designer and stylist Renee Salud, who facilitated the personality development session for the teachers. He was assisted by reigning Miss International Bea Rose Santiago.

 

Also gracing the occasion was National Artist for Literature F. Sionil José, who came with his wife Tessie.

 

Ambassador Cabangon-Chua handed out the Gintong Parangal para sa Literatura at Edukasyon awards.

 

“It’s good to know there are people who recognize the value and importance that every educator plays in molding young Filipinos,” said Education Undersecretary Dina Ocampo.

 

The Angklung group of DepEd Division of Pasay City provided the entertainment.

 

Fortune Life president Arnold Cabangon personally chose the group for “their exceptional talent” playing the angklung, a musical instrument made of bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame.

 

“Sowing has a certain season when we speak of farming, but for Fortune Life Insurance Co., sowing never ceases,” said Arnold. “It continues to plant the seeds of moral values to the youth for a future secured with a bountiful harvest.”

 

L’Indochine

 

The recent opening of L’Indochine’s flagship store at the fourth level of SM’s Mega Fashion Hall drew VIPs from a host of sectors, dahlings.

 

Present were Joey Mead King, architect Willy Coscolluela with wife Marion and daughter Mara, who designed the store’s interiors, and Kirby Quintal of Qworks.

 

Members of the diplomatic corps checked out the store’s artisan finds from around Asia.

 

The L’Indochine flagship store, which is three times bigger than its first store at SM Aura, showcases expertly curated and exquisitely designed items with distinct modern Asian styles the store has been known for. The handmade pieces are by skilled craftsmen and artisans from Thailand, Indonesia, India and other Asian countries.

 

Signa Designer Residences

 

Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), under the leadership of president and COO Frederick Go, organized an exclusive dinner for the investors of Signa Designer Residences, the company’s Makati-based project under its Robinsons Luxuria brand. It is located along Rufino Street in Salcedo Village, Makati City.

 

This happening, palangga, featured an exhibit of the exceptional paintings of the renowned Chan Lim family of artists that showed “the timeless and classic artistry of the East.”

 

Welcoming the guests was senior vice president Mybelle Aragon-Gobio.

 

“Signa Designer Residences [consists of] of two residential towers that display what good taste is all about,” said Aragon-Gobio.

 

Invitees witnessed a Chinese brush-painting demonstration by master artist Alex Chan Lim.

 

The prime development boasts of artistic and tropical architecture made by three world-renowned Filipino designers—interior designer Budji Layug, architect Royal Pineda and furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue.