Your mantra for the week: “I am moving forward to greater success. I am unstoppable.”
There are your quiet moments with God. In the silence, you feel your strength increasing. You have the courage to face all challenges of lack and limitation, divinely directed on what to do to bring forth greater good.
In these moments, you can accept yourself as truly prosperous, someone whose needs are met at the right time.
These are your moments with God—moments of love, for God is love. You are given answers on how you can bring about harmonious relationships and handle the difficult people in your life.
Although your prayers may not be answered in the way you desire, once you are directed, you know it’s the right answer.
How wonderful are these quiet moments with God; they open doors for you. All you need to know and do to bring forth greater good are revealed to you.
Jesus of Nazareth knew the power of spending quiet moments with God; he always went up the mountains to pray (metaphysically, meaning tapping his higher self). He was divinely guided to do the right things, create miracles, reach out and spread the Word. Despite his great accomplishments, he said, “Greater works than I you will do.” For he knew where his power came from.
Cultural weekend
The season’s closing concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) is on April 24, Friday, 8 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater, with Olivier Ochanine conducting and featuring Argentine bandoneonist Rodolfo Mederos.
Mederos is also a composer and an arranger, and is known for having founded the cult group Generacion Cero. As a composer, he is said to “cover the gamut from popular to symphonic pieces for different instrumental groups.”
We noticed that since Ochanine took over the PPO as conductor, he has received nothing but rave reviews from music critics and internationally renowned musicians like Viviana Guzman: “Ochanine is a world-class music director who is also very personable. At such a young age, he has been able to make the PPO sound better than ever.” Juan Lanuza adds that Ochanine “has produced exceptionally beautiful nuances in the orchestral playing.”
Furthermore, Rosalinda Orosa described his conducting the “Rite of Spring” as “astounding and truly overwhelming.”
Restored film classic
For April 25 I got an invitation from one of the members of my theater family, Ivi Avellana-Cosio. I say family because her parents had baptized me as George Hontiveros Avellana and I used to call them Tatay Bert and Inay Daisy.
The occasion is for the premiere showing of the 2014 digital version of “Portrait of the Artist as Filipino,” as restored in Bologna, Italy, under the auspices of the Film Development Council of the Philippines and director Mike de Leon, who inherited the film from his father Manuel de Leon of LVN Pictures.
Tito Manny, as I called Manuel de Leon, was my mother Priscilla’s date the night before she moved on to the next dimension. By the way, my grandfather Felix de la Fuente and Doña Sisang de Leon (Manuel’s mother and founder of LVN) were neighbors on Rizal Street, San Miguel, Bulacan.
“Portrait…” was directed by National Artist for Theater and Film Lamberto Avellana in 1955, based on the play and best known work of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin. The play was so popular that it had been presented by other theater groups like the Arena Theater under Severino Montano, in which I played the role of Tony Javier.
I remember asking the author whether he was not considering writing another play because “Portrait…” was already overly performed; he replied in his usual Quijano de Manila wit, “But George, do you ever get tired of watching the sunset?”
The film version, which stars National Artist for Theater, my Inay Daisy, and Naty Crame Rogers, will be shown at the CCP Little Theater at 7:30 p.m. after the launch of a book on the restoration of the film at 5:30 p.m. at the CCP Gift Shop.
On Sunday, April 26, Rosalinda Orosa will introduce her new book, “Tapestry,” published by Vibal Publishing Group which is headed by good friend Ester Vibal. This will be launched at the CCP Main Lobby.
In the book you will find essays by Joaquin and other distinguished writers, and a foreword by another National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose. The guest of honor and speaker will be CCP president and international piano virtuoso Dr. Raul Sunico.
Unusual ideas
My guest stint on Boy Abunda’s popular TV show, “The Bottomline,” will be aired on April 25 at 11:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN followed by a worldwide broadcast on the Filipino Channel. This will be replayed on April 26 at 1 p.m. on ANC.
Be prepared to hear unusual ideas that are not easily or generally accepted but will be discussed anyway. Some would consider our opinions interesting, extraordinary or controversial, although that was not our intention.
As far as Abunda and I are concerned, we never really got to the bottomline because it felt like there were more chapters to come. But due to time constraints, we had to end. I am not even sure that everything we discussed would be aired because of station and commercial breaks. After the cameras stopped rolling, Abunda said, “Maybe we should have a Part 2…”
Be sure to tune in and we promise you a good night’s sleep or a sleepless one.
Midas touch
Meanwhile, recalling the days of Conde de Makati… “Poor Carling Sison, he is not aware that people like Vicky Farrales, Melly de Leon and Crispin Baizas always keep mum every time he is around because they suspect he is the Conde de Makati. Wait till they find out it is Joe Guevarra.
“And speaking of Joe Guevarra, I am told that, at one of his weekly Sunday bashes recently, Armi Hilario asked Carling Sison:
“Who is Maria (Carling’s youngest daughter) seeing steadily?”
“Caloy Quirino,” Carling replied matter-of-factly. Is he the son of Lizele?”
“Yes.”
“Well then,” continued Armi, “you must discourage this close association.”
“But why?” Carling asked.
“Because his mother is vicious.”
“Vicious?”
“Yes. Do you know what she has been saying? She has been telling people that the Gilarmi Apartments is for call girls and prostitutes.”
“Are you sure she has been saying that?” pressed Carling.
“Of course. As a matter of fact, I confronted her.”
“What did you say?”
“Can you imagine she answered me by saying, ‘But it’s true.’”
Gilarmi Apartments is now Primea, owned by the Ruben Tiu family (nothing to do with Tony Tiu who the Chinese community considers a Johnny-come-lately).
Primea, as everyone can see, sticks out like a sore middle finger (you will overlook this once you enter its fabulous lobby), but the Tius could care less considering all units have sold out. Some people have the Midas touch—others simply have the friendly Makati touch.
Erratum: It is not Maggie Wilson who is hosting “Asia’s Next Top Model” Season 3 but rather Georgina Wilson. Our sources mixed up these two beautiful Wilsons. Thank you to Let Bell-Fray for your keen observation. I stand corrected.
