Abaca in the Money

Abaca was the theme of the affair, dahlings, and at the foyer of the Intercon ballroom was a display of everything made of abaca: slippers, bags, placemats, frames and many more, all of which were raffled off. But what organizer Fil-Anglo was most proud of, palanggas, was the display of printed and unprinted bank notes on paper containing 20 percent abaca fiber. Too bad these were not raffled off, di bala?

This is all due to the assistance of Portals Ltd., a subsidiary of De La Rue Currency of the UK, which assisted the Bangko Sentral in developing the new Philippine millennium notes due for issue very soon. Most of the abaca products were from Isarog Pulp & Paper Co. of Bicol.

Meeting the guests all dressed to the nines was Trina Davies, managing director of Fil-Anglo and host of the affair, together with Intercon’s Michael and Belinda Hermann.

Guests of honor who spoke included Monetary Board member Melito Salazar Jr., British Ambassador Alan Collins (whose British jokes made the hall rock with laughter) and Sec. Raul Roco, a Bicolano, who told the audience that the abaca industry in the Bicol region was founded on Oct. 26, 1817. What he didn’t say was that Oct. 26 is also his birthday!

The surprise of the evening came when GM Hermann wheeled in a birthday cake and announced that it was Trina D.’s birthday. Champagne flowed as a toast was offered for health and success for Trina D.

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Artist Raul Isidro’s exhibit at the Galleria Duemila dealt with a subject that has fascinated him since the Apollo 8 mission to the moon: a view of Mother Earth. Art watchers who joined guests of honor Sec. Joey Lina, Fernando Gaite and Daisy Garcia included Australian ConGen Martin Fitzpatrick and wife Caroline, interior designer Cocoy and Tammy Cordoba, art pals Fil de la Cruz, Pandy Aviado, Precious Sibulo, Joseph Albaña, Beth Tagle.

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Remember, palanggas, "Our salvation is given to us free by our Lord, but it’s not ours until we ask for it." Smile. See you.