Bessie Badilla here for Bvlgari show

Last year was a bad time to travel to the Orient because of the SARS-scare. It was for this reason that Bessie Badilla-del Castillo decided to skip her annual trip to Manila. But this time, she is back with her two daughters, Blanca, 17, and Inez, 9, and all three are having a grand vacation here.

Bessie’s last visit to Manila in 2002 was very crucial for me. It was a time when I had to make an important decision on whether to buy my halfway house or not. Since I’ve always respected her opinion (she always tells me the truth) and taste (she can be parochial and at the same time sophisticated), I asked her to help me decide on this major investment.

We met at the Figaro coffee shop in Greenhills and then I proceeded to show her the place. Although she agreed with me that the piece of property was badly cut, she believed that "it had great potentials" and advised me to "go for it." "It would depend on how you are going to fix it up," she told me and eventually gave me tips on how to give the place a modern look. At the back of my mind, however, I was all set to fix it up Vigan style.

After a tour of the house, we went separate ways and only 20 minutes later, I called her up to tell her that I had bought the property. She almost dropped the phone because while she was flaterred that I followed her advice, she was also a bit scared that she would also be partly responsible if I would realize later that I had made the wrong decision. (I didn’t and I thank Bessie for helping me decided over that.)

Since she returned to Manila, she had been very eager to see what I did with the place. Then let’s meet up – I would tell her. Unfortunately, getting an appointment with Bessie is like asking for an audience with President George Bush in the middle of a world crisis. During the day, she takes up lessons in conga drums and with Blanca, ballet classes (which are obviously cheaper here). At night, there are invitations here and there for dinner. In between, she even managed to make a side trip to Bangkok with her siblings.

Just to be able to see her, Ali Sotto, Ricky Davao and I had to gatecrash her St. Scholastica high school reunion at the Bel-Air home of former classmate Diane Gonzalez, a descendant of Tomas Mapua, who established the Mapua Institute of Technology. (That same evening, Bessie also met up with good friends Cito Beltran and Richard Merck at the latter’s Merck’s bistro and bar in Greenbelt 3.)

Although that was the first time we met this group, Ali, Ricky and I had fun over dinner, where I had a taste of this most delicious cheese roll from Bicutan that was brought by one St. Scho alumna. But the best part was the company. Bessie’s classmates never made us feel like we were intruders (which we really were) because everyone was just so nice.

However, I still insisted on giving a get-together for Bessie at my place – to which Bessie was amenable because she wanted to see what I did with the place.

The only problem was that she only had one slot available left in her calendar last week and she still had to squeeze in another reunion to be organized by good friend Marlene Aguilar-Pollard.

Known in some circles as the sister of Freddie Aguilar, Marlene is actually an art patron/dealer and an international multi-awarded book publisher. (Her most recent award was for her book about the coral reefs, which won a prize in Italy.)

Marlene also wanted to show her house in Blue Ridge and even I was excited to see it because I saw it being renovated in 2002 – with workmen in two shifts working 24 hours a day.

To solve the problem on how Marlene and I can both have Bessie without sawing her in half, we decided that dinner would be served in Blue Ridge, while dessert will be at my place.

On the night of the dinner hosted by Marlene and husband Steve, we were joined by Bessie’s sister, Bing Magsanoc (wife of cage star Ronnie), her brother Sonny and his girlfriend Pet Gonzales. Ali Sotto and husband Omar were also there – along with our new friend Diane Gonzales. Steve Pollard also invited his friend Richard from the Asian Development Bank.

After the delicious dinner prepared by Marlene, we went on a tour of their gallery in another street in Blue Ridge where she sells beautiful Orientalia – including Buddhas in alabaster.

From there, we proceeded to my place for a late evening snack of two varieties of okoy, fresh lumpia, palitao, leche flan and ginger juice. (I had to give Bessie her fill of native delicacies.)

Up to this writing, Bessie us up to her neck with activities – the most crucial of which is attending to the book she is co-editing with Marlene Aguilar Pollard. It is called Encyclopedia of Philippine Paintings and Sculptures and will be launched on Oct. 12.

Tonight, Bessie will be modeling some of the latest Bvlgari collections at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati – upon the invitation of former classmate Macy Macam Pineda and Bvlgari franchise owner, Mario Katigbak.

Bessie will be here only until Aug. 3. But she will be back in October for the launching of the coffee table book. Knowing how her schedule gets filled up so easily, those who want to get together with her in October are well advised to get a number now.

Only shows you how much everyone loves Bessie.