Homage to a grandlady

It was beautiful night of bonding with family and friends as the grand lady Amparo del Rosario celebrated her 90th birthday recently. Helping her welcome her very special guests were her children, the well-respected US Ambassador Albert del Rosario and his lovely wife Gretchen, elegant lady Ginny del Rosario-Abello with her husband top doctor Emilio Abello, Luis and Barbara del Rosario, Alice Ong, Aying Palenzuela and Joanne del Rosario. Ging de los Reyes of Flower Farm transformed Le Soufflé with her beautiful flower arrangements. The food was excellently prepared by Billy King and Jesse Sincioco – pan-fried goose liver and grilled shiitake mushroom salad and a choice of either a duo of grilled duck breast and duck confit sautéed spinach and potato lyonnais or poached Chilean sea bass in mustard dill sauce with sautéed spinach and parsley marble cubes. For dessert, it was demitasse of chocolate-coffee crunch soufflé or canonigo.

The night was made even memorable as renowned violinist Jay Cayuca together with Joe Nicolas and his orchestra serenaded the guests with beautiful songs. Notable personalities that evening were Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Manny Pangilinan who came in euphoric over the victory of Ateneo basketball game, Senate President Franklin Drilon and wife Mila, former BIR Commissioner Rene Bañez, DFA Undersecretary Frank Edbalin with wife Cora and Ambassador Nena Manalo.

In lieu of gifts Amparo del Rosario, a lady with a golden heart, requested that a donation be made to her favorite charity, the Foundation of Carmelite Scholastics.