Your mantra for the week: “My energy comes from my enthusiasm.”
The concept of “E-living” has nothing to do with electronics, unless one considers the idea of mental and emotional electronics. This theory covers six important “E” words.
1) Enthusiasm. Entheous, its root word, means “from God.” We usually associate it with heartfelt emotion like eagerness, earnestness and exhilaration. We appreciate and follow people with great enthusiasm. It is something that most leaders have, whether they realize it or not.
2) Empowerment. When one is empowered, one can accomplish great feats and that’s why I consider IAMISM a philosophy and psychology of empowerment—on the spiritual level, using the Power within you, which is God, for guidance and protection.
3) Encouragement. One of the best ways to plant the good in one’s life is to encourage others to live up to their full potential. An encouraging word can do wonders for a person who is depressed, discouraged and feeling down on oneself. It helps us to overcome all our imagined fears and move on confidently.
4) Efficiency. There is nothing in the world that works like competence. When one is able to show one’s capability in accomplishing a job masterfully, success comes naturally.
5) Empathy. It moves one to be compassionate and to realize that we, too, have weaknesses and strengths. Thus, expanding our capacity to understand makes it easy to forgive. Forgiveness opens doors to enumerable blessings.
6) Excellence. When we make up our minds to do our work with excellence, it drives us to a level of productivity that we never realized we were capable of. Excellence requires patience, self-discipline and a determination to make use of one’s talents and abilities.
These six E’s assure you that you are living and not just existing.
Chavit opens a restaurant
As if Chavit Singson had nothing on his plate, he has decided to enter the restaurant business by opening Dario’s Ristorante Italiano at Serendra, Bonifacio Global City—right after his Miss Universe “busy-ness.”
Italian Ambassador Massimo and madame Agnes Roscigno were guests of honor; in a way they were also cohosting with Singson daughter Tricia the packed-to-the-gills crowd that occupied the mezzanine floor.
I had the pleasure of sitting beside Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Teddyboy Locsin who we will certainly miss in his Teditorial on ANC’s “The World Tonight.”
Joey and Hilda Antonio were seated with us while Helen O was having an animated conversation with Hilda. My favorite ambassador’s wife Lizia Lu graced us with her charming presence.
Nedy Tantoco sat with Greek Ambassador Kaimenakis Nikolaos and Laotian Ambassador Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, while Patrick Jacinto entertained friends from Australia in the function room.
There, too, was Tonyboy Cojuangco with the always attractive Gretchen Barretto. I noticed Mike Toledo walking in at one point in the evening.
Italian wines flowed from beginning to end.
Dario Gardini, Manong Chavit’s business partner, prepared un gustativo cena that covered from starters to the dessert.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Chavit also ventures into the beauty business. Imagine a beauty atelier called Luis’ Salon de Beauté.
‘Timeless’
One of my favorite painters, Mia O. Herbosa, ended her two-week group show, “Timeless,” at the Artist Space in Ayala Museum.
The exhibit included works by her mother Elaine. Mia was unable to attend, but Elaine was there to pay the host. Truly, talent is “Timeless” especially when it’s in the genes.
Ikebana exhibit
The annual exhibit of Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 opened at the Ayala Malls on March 3, at the Activity Center Palm Drive, Makati City.
Today is the last day for you to enjoy this intoxicating Ikebana exhibit arranged by exhibit chair Nonette Hubilla featuring ikebana experts Evangeline Cheng and Margot Perez, who are also the president and co-chair.
There are over 60 participants including the Embassy of Japan and founding president Carmen Guevara. I love ikebana arrangements, they can be likened to perfect haikus.
‘You’re in good hands’
Metrobank Foundation president Chito Sobrepeña has announced the start of the annual Search for Outstanding Filipinos, specifically teachers, soldiers and police officers, who are role models of excellence and integrity in the performance of their duties—to better inspire their colleagues to strive more and raise the bar of greatness in their profession.
Nominations will be accepted by the MBFI secretariat and Metrobank branches on or before March 24. Nomination forms can be accessed through www.mbfoundation.org.ph or through Facebook Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos. (Call 8988898, 8578757, 0956-8734684, 0933-522-4186; e-mail oustandingfilipinos.mbfi@gmail. com).
The theme of this year’s search is “Beyond Excellence”; the recipients will each receive a medallion, a trophy and P1 million cash.
Dinner for Sal Panelo
Pushpa Chandiramani and her son Rajiv, of My View, the most popular and affordable TV brand in the provinces, recently hosted a dinner at their residence in Corinthian Gardens for good friend Sal Panelo, who Rajiv said “is like a brother to my mom.”
Present were the usual suspects: Tina Cuevas, Ann Ong, Agnes Huibonhua, Susan Joven, Ching and Philip Cruz, Ben Chan’s richer brother Carlos who produces the most popular food snacks and has a large portion of the Shanghai market in his pocket.
In the United States, they say, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere, and in China, if you can penetrate Shanghai, you can’t get any higher.
After all that talk of art, culture and high socials, let me end this column with a counterpoint that came about while watching on television the extrajudicial killing of the English language with impunity.
This was committed while the Commission on Appointments was deciding on whether to confirm the appointment of Gina Lopez as Environment Secretary.
Kudos to Gina for keeping her cool—truly nice for the environment!