To honor his noble legacy of values and ethical business practices, over a hundred relatives, close peers and prominent businessmen attended the inaugural dinner. Msgr. Francisco Tantoco officiated the blessing ceremonies. Representing the de las Alas family were Don Antonio’s dear daughters, Ching de las Alas Montinola and Menchu de las Alas Concepcion, plus Don Antonio’s granddaughter, Josie Padilla Rufino.
A grand buffet, an endless flow of wines and bouquets of pretty white flowers awaited the guests, a veritable "who’s who" in business and politics including former President Fidel Ramos; Ambassadors Jesus Tambunting, Isabel Wilson and Bienvenido Tantoco and his son Rico; former Prime Minister Cesar Virata; Former DECS Secretary Bro. Andrew Gonzales; RCBC chairman Roy Navarro; lawyer Cesar Buenaventura; Ronnie Concepcion; and Serge Montinola.
With the successful inauguration of the dining hall, may the legacy of Don Antonio de las Alas be a shining example to Filipinos!
A lucky group of Filipinos recently got to know wines better, thanks to a winery visit sponsored by Torres Wines. The entourage was led by the generous Arthur Reyes, president of ATR World’s Best Wines and Spirits, the exclusive importer and distributor of Torres beverages locally.
Torres has been chosen by Wine Spectator magazine as the most important winery in Spain. The Torres family has been producing wine in an old Catalan town since the 1600s. Centuries of expertise in wine-making have harvested a myriad accolades: Best Cabernet Sauvignon for Mas La Plana 1970 at the 1979 Paris Gault Millau Olympiad; gold medals for the 1985 Viña Esmeralda; the 1994 Marimar Tomas Estate Chardonnay; the 1995 Fransola; and the 1997 Waltraud.
Miguel Torres himself, the venerable president of the House of Torres, was the host of the group. With him was Torres’ oenologist, Sergio Fiorentini. Throughout their days at the hilly, terrace-like landscape of the Agulladolc estate, Arthur Reyes and company explored vineyards laden with varieties of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay and the like. Meal after meal, course after course was a lesson in the delicate art of matching wine with food and knowing the subtleties and surprises that each glass of potion presents. The whole trip was truly a wine lover’s dream adventure!
Now, as for understanding women, that can take anything between a lifetime and eternity.
So, how was your week?