The sixth anniversary celebration of Fortune Life’s advocacy on the value of hard work and discipline was highlighted by a special musical presentation that paid tribute to the late Antonio Cabangon Chua, founder and chairman emeritus of Fortune Life and the ALC group of companies, and former ambassador to Laos.
Held at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan of the Department of Education, the production featured stage performers directed by veteran theater artist Luna Inocian.
The story of Cabangon Chua’s journey was filled with sorrow and disappointment, challenges and pitfalls, but always full of hope.
As the musical narrated, his love and dedication to the two most important women in his life, his mother Dominga Lim Cabangon, and his wife Bienvenida Angeles, made his dreams bigger.
Quoting the lines, “With his refusal to accept defeat, the ability to rise to every challenge and unwavering belief that as long as a man practices hard work and discipline, nothing is impossible,” Education Secretary Dr. Leonor Briones received a standing ovation, palangga.
Then it was time to hand out the 5th Ambassador Cabangon Chua Gintong Parangal para sa Edukasyon to eight awardees who best exemplified the value of hard work and discipline.
Proudly wearing Filipiniana, the awardees walked up the stage to receive their trophies, certificates, bouquets and cash prizes from Fortune Life president Arnold Cabangon Chua, assisted by general manager Evelyn Carada and Briones.
Cheering at the sidelines were DepEd officers, Fortune executives and Linda Legaspi, CEO of Marylindbert International, the event’s cosponsor.
Arnold Cabangon Chua said in his speech: “Fortune Life’s advocacy on the value of hard work and discipline, in partnership with the Department of Education and Marylindbert International, is my father’s legacy to children and the country.
“These are the same values practiced by my father, our family, and our company which we have shared with over 1,000 schools nationwide, having given 700,000 workbooks to 3.3 million schoolchildren. And we continue to do more…”
In her keynote address, Briones said: “To give importance to discipline and hard work is to bring up the very values that had made us as a nation and as a people.”
She added: “Education in the country is a task not only of the Department of Education but everyone’s joint responsibility.”
The event also remembered “Amba”—as Ambassador Cabangon Chua was fondly called—with these words: “Sometimes the dreams you dream seem wildly out of reach, but in life, you never give up.”
Swooning to ‘The Escort’
Manille’s beautiful people recently gathered for the special screening of “The Escort” which stars Derek Ramsay, Lovi Poe and Christopher de Leon.
Sponsored by the Belo Medical Group, the special screening had women swooning in delight at Ramsay’s sizzling scenes.
Dr. Vicki Belo herself attended the screening, along with Belo consultant Jojie Dingcong and VIP guests.
The film’s male leads, Ramsay and De Leon—incidentally both Belo endorsers—also graced the screening held at My Cinema in Greenbelt 3.
Likewise in the audience were Dr. Hayden Kho, Anton San Diego, Pepper Teehankee, Tessa Prieto-Valdes (who shrieked every time Ramsay appeared onscreen), Tina Ocampo, Mariane Po, Techie Hagedorn, Kit Zobel, Vicky Zubiri, Tessie Oca Prieto, Carol Garcia, Andrew Gan, Jonathan Matti and Dr. Glenn Carandang.
Before the screening, the guests partook of a sumptuous buffet catered by Kai: mini Wagyu burger, soft-shell crab roll, spicy tuna maki, California maki, roasted grapes and tomato salad, 16-hour braised pork belly, steamed Japanese rice, Inaniwa udon, and trio crème brûlée for dessert.
“The Escort” has reportedly grossed a whopping P44 million at the box office.
