Mixing French precision with Pinoy graciousness

There is no better way to observe the Lenten season than by helping our less fortunate fellowmen to better their lives. We can share not only our material goods, but also our time and talent in assisting charitable institutions who seek out the poorest of the poor.

Several exceptional foreigners have contributed immensely to the Philippines by setting up non-profit associations that are far away from their countries of origin in France and the United States. They represent the Christian edict that we have been taught in our schools since time immemorial, “Whatever you do for the least of our fellowmen, you do it for Me.”

One of them is remarkable Laurence Ligier, a lovely French national who came here at the age of 20 to do volunteer work in far-flung areas of the Philippines and four years later set up her own charity — the Chameleon — for sexually abused young girls.   She has stayed on for more than two decades and still working hard for her “girls” who have now numbered more than 600 with the help of a very capable staff and more than a hundred volunteers.
“Chameleon’s core mission is to help survivors of sexual abuse (girls aged 5 to 17, majority of incest cases) restore their childhood and self-worth as human beings. In addition to providing protection and rehabilitation, efforts are directed at the root-causes of child abuse by promoting prevention, education, social development, and the advocacy of children’s rights,” Laurence explains.

To celebrate this success, improve awareness of its actions and raise additional funds, Chameleon held its first charity gala at the Manila Polo Club with the charming Viscountess Corinne de Longuemar as the evening’s host together with Isabelle Garachon, the statuesque wife of the French ambassador.  The enjoyable evening was filled with Filipino friends and the expat community who enjoyed a specially prepared meal by chef Jacky Robert, another French national whose impressive resume includes stints at Maxim’s and Prunier in Paris as well as cooking for the international who’s who.  He not only co-owns four Petit Robert Bistro restaurants in the Boston area but also co-founded Chefs Feed Kids, which provides daily meals for Manila street kids.  

As the delicious dinner was progressing, I decided to visit the Polo Club’s kitchen to see how chef Jacky and his Filipino crew were coping with feeding almost 400 guests and found that everything moved like clock work.  There was smoothness in the food preparations and the service was impeccable — truly French precision with Pinoy graciousness.

For information on Chameleon (all donations are tax deductible), visit www.chameleon-association.org, e-mail: chameleon_phils@yahoo.com or like  Chameleon Philippines on Facebook.

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