Beauty, brains and more – any parent would be proud to have the captivating and effervescent Joelle Rodriguez Goudsmit as a daughter. An Economics major and consistent Dean’s Lister, Joelle recently graduated with honors from Smith College at Northampton, Massachusetts. Her thrilled parents, the gracious Jules and Babbit Goudsmit were so ecstatic that they took their cherished daughter on a trip to Moscow for her graduation gift.
During their stay in the culture-rich capital, the joyful Goudsmit family was hosted by former Thai Ambassador to the Philippines, Sorayouth Prompoj and wife Ammaralak who lent their glorious palace with warm and open hearts. Nikita Khruschev lived in this same regal residence while he was Stalin’s heir, right before he became premier of the USSR. Jules, Babbit and Joelle were so fortunate because they were the first Filipinos to be invited to stay in the majestic house, whose opulence and splendor rivaled the world’s five-star hotels. It was an unforgettable vacation for the couple and for Joelle, the cool and captivating honor graduate.
Congratulations, Joelle!
The colorful affair was attended by different prominent personalities from the Fil-Hispanic community in Madrid and leaders of the different Filipino communities in Spain.
The very regal Isabel Preysler and her husband the former Finance Minister, Miguel Boyer, led the list of the illustrious guests, and were received by the Ambassador and his wife, the ever gracious and alabaster-skinned Conchita Sevilla de Bernardo.
Those who were lucky enough to be invited applauded the performance of the Bayanihan Cultural dance group. Two outstanding dances were performed, the Mantones de Seda and Tinikling, which were given an ovation and were so animated that many of the spectators joined in the dancing.
Present in the joyous revelry were former Ambassador of the Philippines Mike Stilianopoulus; Gov. Joe Zubiri and his beautiful wife Vicky; radiant sisters Monica and Cristina Zobel; and Lorenzo Tan, who inaugurated the new PNB office in Madrid.
Let’s toast to freedom and continued friendship of the two countries!
Advance birthday greetings to Pam Litton, Dusit’s Melotte Mondelo, former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor, Old Asia’s Pachot Mapa, Sonia Mathay and columnist Gilbert Perez, Sept. 13; former senator Santanina Rasul, Sept. 14; PLDT’s Marietta Santos, Irene Marcos-Araneta and Marnie Santiago Litton, Sept. 15; FurnITALIA managing director Florence Ko and golfer Bolo Tuason, Sept. 16; singer and composer Aiza Seguerra, Toti Fernandez, restaurateur Larry Cruz and Manila Bulletin’s Ben Rodriguez, Sept. 17.
Happy wedding anniversary to my son E.J. and wife Tess Aguado Litton, Sept. 17. May you both have many, many more years of wedded bliss.
So, how was your week?
(For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)