“At the end of the day, let’s put our trust in God.”
Hardly original advice, but this ending to the homily of Fr. Tito Caluag resonated with the select few who had gathered in the Mass last June 26 to mark the 16th death anniversary of media patriarch Eugenio “Geny” Lopez, Jr. a few weeks ago. (He died June 28, 1999.)
Fr. Caluag wasn’t really referring to individuals (all right, to a certain “trapo”) but to the national scheme of things. At a time the country is anxious about who would succeed P-Noy, the priest reminded us of our default mode—God.
Philippine Tatler editor in chief and Lifestyle columnist Anton San Diego conveyed the same message last Thursday before the chi-chi crowd that gathered at Ayala Museum to celebrate the high-society glossy’s glam issue featuring Dr. Vicki Belo on the cover—and just as important, to celebrate San Diego’s second lease on life.
He survived the helicopter crash last weekend that took the lives of business mogul Archie King and young pilot Felicisimo Taborlupa Jr.
We didn’t make it to the event. A guest told us how San Diego admonished everyone to let go of old grudges and to patch up longstanding differences, calling out designer Pepito Albert’s name (I didn’t know Pepito has one, and with whom?), and not to forget to give your loved ones a hug.
The glam night, I was told, turned into a thanksgiving. My friend guest noted how San Diego acknowledged the presence of Maurice Arcache, who was sitting quietly among the guests, and thanked him for taking the time and effort to come.
We’ve heard from Ricco Ocampo who, with wife Tina, the fashion icon, was also in the helicopter crash. It’s heartwarming to know that the couple has checked out of the hospital, where they were treated after the crash for various fractures.
We’re hoping for the healing of everyone, and we condole with the loved ones of King.
King had always been accommodating to Lifestyle, giving us interviews about his fitness and meditative lifestyle.
‘Wedding cake’
The past few weeks have shown us how the ties that bind can make or unmake one’s life, or at least make it a bit more exciting.
The ties that bind—or bound— the President and the Vice President go way beyond the political, to so far back, to the end of Marcos rule. Just how personal the bond was (was), we learned only recently, when we heard how, some time ago, the diminutive VP promised the President that he would be willing to stand as his “ring bearer” in his wedding, just so the longtime bachelor would finally get married.
And to sustain the jest, during the President’s birthday, each year, the VP would send, not a birthday cake, but a wedding cake. (By the same baker that does Makati’s cakes for senior citizens?)
That chummy. Gone are those days.
But then in politics, as in everything else, shared interests don’t necessarily keep. The ties that bind are built on shared values, never only on interests.
That’s the long and short of any relationship, political or otherwise.
Hotflashes
Speaking of relationships, Dennis and Tessa Valdes celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago at the “it” venue, Swatch+Swatch Center in Makati, and to us, it was one of the most ingenious, most homey and coziest (if the adjective could be applicable for any Sea Princess bash) celebrations the couple have had.
It had the ’50s and ’60s theme, with a woman’s band called Hotflashes performing hits from the era (including Motown), and the select guests freely line-dancing.
Our batchmate from St. Theresa’s, Nancy Reyes-Lumen, led the Hotflashes. The band was a hit—a discovery of Popsie Gamboa, shared with Swatch’s Virgie Ramos, who has been hosting what must be the hippest events this year at Swatch Center.
The party was not a disco (that’s ’70s) but more like a shindig—with pizza, hotdogs, soda and all.
The partnership of Dennis and Tessa is one of the most fulfilling, stimulating and fun we know. They complete each other.
We’ll always remember what Tessa told us to describe the extent of their compatibility—“Dennis is one husband who’s learned the art of not stepping on the train of my gown.”
And believe us, if you attend many of Manila’s formal functions, you’d wish many a guy had acquired the agility of avoiding the hem of your long formal wear. Women have had ripped hems.
The threads that bind—in the case of Tessa and Dennis.
Overheard
Over lunch, we listened to a metrosexual’s advice to women who get to look alike after the same face job: “Never, never share your cosmetic surgeon with your friends.”
On hair dyeing, a gay friend said, “My mother passed away at 86—all black hair, red nails. It takes bravery to allow white hair to show.”
On man’s fidelity, a woman friend quipped: “The only male we know who’s faithful is Hachiko.” (The dog at Shibuya Station who waited 10 years for his master to return. Such was his faithfulness.)