Your mantra for the week: “My receiving comes from all my giving, forgiving and thanksgiving.”
Whatever surrounds you, whatever you’re aware of in your outer world, is a reflection of your inner world. Thus, noticing all that is beautiful around you will make you discover your own beauty.
And when you become aware of the perfection that is around you, you will likewise notice your own perfection… all your gifts, all the talents and abilities that have been given you. Through the use of these bounty, you begin to live a happy and fulfilled life.
There are many things you can do, but what stops you from doing them are your fears. “Do them and I’ll give you the power” is what the God within you is saying. And if you have trust in your heart, you will not be afraid—you will take that first step.
Trust means never giving up, realizing that all things are working out for your good. Many people simply hope, not knowing that hope implies the expectation of something or someone outside of you to come to your rescue.
But, you, who know how to trust—trust in your inner power, the power that tells you I am here, I am in charge.
Now you must begin to give. Start giving gifts for all occasions, appreciation even for no occasion. There is so much to give, and many things that you can give come from the gifts you have received: your talents, your abilities, your knowledge.
Begin now, not tomorrow. You can commence with your capacity to think and to feel—use them constructively and creatively. By doing so, the colors of the rainbow begin to manifest in your life: the red of passion; the blue of wisdom; the yellow of joy; the green of prosperity; the pink of health; the white of purity; and purple, the color of your spirituality.
Enjoy all the beautiful colors of life and love. Know how truly blessed and wonderful you are!
High on art
Carlos “Botong” Francisco’s 42 x 27.5 “Kalantiao at Lubluban” was acquired by a bid of P30 million last week at the León Gallery auction. It is a sign that the economy is truly booming and the appreciation of art has found a new high.
People are now realizing that good art is one of the best ways to invest one’s money—and that’s the “Botong-line.”
Like New Year’s Eve
It felt like New Year’s Eve last Wednesday at Peninsula Manila on its 40th anniversary. Gentlemen came in their tuxedos and the ladies in their long gowns, made by local and international fashion designers.
They traipsed around the lobby as well as in Old Manila, Escolta, Salon de Ning and Spices. Truly, a grand fiesta for the Peninsula whose lobby is still unparalleled. Imagine 700 to 800 guests making beso-beso and chica-chica like in a family reunion of sorts.
Party people of Pen
It was nice seeing Mila Magsaysay-Valenzuela who was the Pen’s social and public relations director for 25 years. The staff calls her Mrs. V, while Arnel Patawaran calls her the First Lady of PR.
Her brother, former Sen. Jun Magsaysay, also graced the occasion. We reminisced how my father, Carlos Moran Sison, used to write speeches for their father, the well-loved President Ramon Magsaysay.
Moët & Chandon champagne flowed all evening. Rico Tantoco looked like he was truly enjoying himself chit-chatting with blood specialist and dermatologist Carla Chuatico and insurance gentlemen Paul Chuatico and Robert Lim, who was with his always lovely Helen.
Rico and I were laughing at the probability that we would one day be related—and I would have to call him Tito Rico because his granddaughter Camille and my nephew Sancho have been an item for some years now.
It was wonderful to see former Peninsula Manila general manager Sonja Vodusek who flew in from Tokyo for the occasion. She is well remembered and admired by the Pen staff.
I exchanged pleasantries with Marivic Rufino, Miguel Realmonte, Inno Sotto, Criselda Lontok, Danny Vazquez, Raul Manzano, Teddy Boy “No Filter” Locsin, Joseph Calata sans expectant mother Nel, Anna and Chito Sobrepeña, who handed me an invitation to Metrobank’s 32nd recognition program for Art and Design Excellence in painting, sculpture, architecture and interior design to be held on Sept. 22.
Also present was Rita Dy, who was telling me about her involvement with Zonta, Ayala chapter, and how she wished I would consider helping to get her 40 members more enthused about their goals of empowering women and helping out the less fortunate that do need a boost not only financially but emotionally, mentally and spiritually; Mel Meer, looking healthy and happy after two birthday celebrations: one was a sit-down with 15-long time friends; held on the eve of his birthday and followed by another one, two days later, with a more casual get-together with a larger group of friends.
At 7:30 p.m., on center stage in the lobby, the new general manager Mark Choon warmly welcomed the guests and relayed how at home he has been in the Philippines, which I am sure has a lot to do with his being married to a Filipino, pretty Jennifer.
Mark then proudly introduced Sir Michael Kadoorie, chair of Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, who detailed the beginnings of the Peninsula Manila which opened on Sept. 14, 1976, in time for the International Monetary Fund conference of that same year.
He mentioned how fortunate it was to “find great partners and friends, and I would particularly like to acknowledge the Lim, Palanca, Zobel, Ayala, Soriano, Araneta, Go, Teodoro, Chan and Yuchengco families who all share our company’s philosophy and culture.”
I remember in 1979, when Elvira Manahan returned from her seven-year residency in London and resumed her “Two for the Road” weekly TV show, it was our group that warmed up the Peninsula lobby from midnight to dawn until more and more people caught on and started enjoying its round-the-clock service. There is no other lobby in the whole country like the Pen lobby.
At the end of the speech of Sir Michael came the announcement, “Ladies and gentlemen, the multi-awarded Miss Lea Salonga.” She rendered songs from “Miss Saigon” and “Les Mis” plus an encore number, naturally.
Then, Las Guitaras, a 12-member mariachi group, walked down from the Mezzanine to Old Manila to play for the Pen executives and their guests.
Evening’s best-dressed
The evening would not be complete if I did not mention the list of who I thought were the best-dressed ladies of the night. Two ladies in white, Helen Ong in a Balenciaga gown and Tina Jacinto in a Maureen Disini creation, topped the list.
Not far behind was Gemma Cruz-Araneta donning her own design, and Joanne Rae Ramirez in an Ito Curata. Jojie Lloren dressed Marites Enriquez while Francis Libiran designed a gold and black number for Diana Jeanne Lopez.
To 40 more years
Chair Kadoorie ended his speech by saying, “We have had a wonderful 40 years, and we are here to stay.”
In the I Ching and in the Bible, 40 is the number of deliverance; in the context of the Peninsula Manila, it promises even better years to come!
E-mail the columnist: georgedfsison
@gmail.com; visit www.George
Sison.com and www.iamism.org; listen to his “Positive Session” radio program on DWIZ 882 AM every Saturday, 9-10 p.m.