Celebrating an inspiration
“Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.” — Henry David Thoreau
It was a touching affair when Air France/KLM Ambassador and Monaco Consul Fortune Ledesma, Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa, jetsetter and STAR columnist Mayenne Carmona and your columnist, in conjunction with KLM Royal Dutch Airline’s 90 years of inspiration led by its GM Cees Ursem, decided on a belated birthday celebration with one purpose in mind: to raise funds for the poor so they can have decent housing. This charitable fun-filled occasion recently took place at The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion in McKinley Hill courtesy of Eugene and Michelle Sandejas. Family, friends and guests from the diplomatic corps, business community and Manila’s A-listers had a wonderful time as they witnessed compassion in motion for the Gawad Kalinga (GK) founded by Tony Meloto. When Air France/KLM started to put up a village in one of the GK sites in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, this inspired the four celebrators to add more houses through a fundraising event. Le Souffle’s sumptuous fare incited everyone’s appetites. Robert Blancaflor decorated the place beautifully and Le Cellier made the guests cheerful with crisp wines. Raffle prizes included two round-trip business class plane tickets donated by Air France/KLM, wallets from Escada and QualiBet’s Pinky Tobiano.
Many, many thanks and let’s all give ourselves a pat on the back!
Greetings
Happy birthday to our celebrators today Maan Hontiveros and Angel Ramos.
Advance birthday greetings to Muebles Italiano’s Eileen Gonzales, Ludy Padilla, William Llamas and Allure’s Phoebe Marquez, Dec. 7; Frank Evaristo, Dec. 8; banker O.V. Espiritu, James Go and Mari Lagdameo, Dec. 9; FCCP’s Chit Gohu, Lalie Tolentino and Ruth Co, Dec. 10; to my dear wife Tere, Lucille Chebaldin, Chinits Rufino, Ging de los Reyes and Mau Padilla, Dec. 11; Dr. Benjamin Alimurong, concert queen Pops Fernandez, former Prime Minister Cesar Virata and Lovely Romulo, Dec. 12.
Belated birthday greetings to Glen Llamas, Dec. 4.
So how was your week?
(For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)
