“Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Attended by founding members, special guests and those who are committed to uplifting Philippine culture, the Society for Cultural Enrichment, Inc. (SCEI) recently held an induction ceremony at the posh Gercon Plaza Penthouse. Inducted by Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador were astute businessman and real estate mogul Gerry Contreras as president and chairman and former Central Bank governor and art enthusiast Dr. Jaime Laya as vice chairman. Other officers were vice president Angolan Consul Helen Ong, 1st vice president Cristina Galang Caedo, lovely and hardworking treasurer Mimi Valerio, assistant treasurer Marietha Holmgren, genial secretary Mars Lambino, international concert pianist assistant secretary Raul Sunico and dynamic public relations officer Sandie Poblador. Members of the board were Tess Castro, Betty Chua, Mila How, Tessie Luz, Margie Ortiz Luis and Mita Rufino. The SCEI promises to promote all fields of art and culture, broaden its coverage to many levels of society, especially the youth. Among those seen were Ambassador Peter Beckingham and wife Jill of the United Kingdom, Asia’s “Fashion Czar” Pitoy Moreno, world-renowned visual artist Juvenal Sanso, Rockefeller awardee and former CCP president Nes Jardin, National Museum administrator Corazon Alvina and National Library directress Prudencia Cruz.
Congratulations and Mabuhay!
An intimate homecoming party
An intimate exclusive champagne dinner replete with Spanish and Italian delicacies as well as special Arabic desserts was recently hosted by the charming husband-and-wife tandem of Manoling and Sandie Poblador together with their closest friends and special guests from the diplomatic corps at their sprawling Forbes Park residence. The event was in celebration of the fruitful homecoming from England of their sons Manuel Raymund and Miguel Poblador. In attendance were Ambassador Mohammed Ameen Wali of Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Makoto Katsura of Japan, Ambassador Salwa Moufid of Egypt and newly arrived Ambassador A. Selverajah and wife Mary of Singapore, plus some of the couple’s close friends from Japan, the Czech Republic and Italy. Guests were serenaded with opera, kundiman and Broadway selections by tenor Erano Yongco accompanied by the University of the Philippines College of Music department head Carolyn Kleiner Cheng.
Welcome home, boys!
GREETINGS
Happy birthday to our celebrator today, FCCP’s Nellie Bengzon.
Advance birthday greetings to Chona Trinidad, Ronnie Caballero and lovely teener Fiona Young, Oct. 19; maritime lawyer Ruben del Rosario and Raoul Chee Kee, Oct. 20; Tessie Rodrigo, comedienne Mitch Valdez and Chelo Banal-Formoso, Oct. 21; delightful Tereret Tambunting Liboro, Oct. 22; champion golfer Cora Suntay and superb diva Verni Varga, Oct. 23; Crispina Martinez-Belen, Junjun Ablaza, Ramon Tomeldan and Raffy Zulueta, Oct. 24.
So, how was your week?
(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)