"A Teacher’s Garden" by Dr. Ma. Perla M. Hudtohan focuses on her personal experience both as teacher and gardener. A summa cum laude graduate from Assumption College in Iloilo, she has an uncommonly wide teaching background which encompasses the elementary and graduate levels. She describes her book as "a reflection of my personality, my emotional state and my expressed philosophies... my garden sways sometimes towards my desire to recreate and at other times to conserve."
Illustrations are by Perla’s husband Emil. Both received hearty congratulations at the book launching in Greenbelt from Chic R. Francisco, Cherry Bautista, Christine Zialcita, Bettina Araneta, Karen Madrid, Chi de Villa, Giana Aboitiz, Arlyn Andrada, among many others.
Perla’s first book "A Teacher Learns" is likewise replete with her enriching experience.
The first Australian Film Festival, a resounding success, drew various sectors from government, diplomatic, the arts and media circles–to the Greenbelt Cinemas, the U.P. Film Center and Ayala Center, Cebu. At the opening, Ambassador Ruth Pearce noted "the power of films to give an understanding of our culture and ideas, of our multi-culturalism and of our psyche."
The embassy staff, among them Carlo Figueroa, feverishly worked out the many details to ensure the festival’s huge success.
Belen Lovina Ticzon Martel expressly came to town to be with her only daughter Antonia, then vacationing from Fordham University in New York. As a happy coincidence, Belen marked her birthday during Antonia’s vacation; thus, family and friends had a wonderful reunion as they dined and danced at Inter-Con’s Bahia Room. Guests feasted on an epicurean selection of international cuisine, and swayed to the music of Lady Valerie’s orchestra till the wee, wee hours.
It is always a risk and a challenge to stage a program which will raise enough funds for charity. "Miss Saigon," as presented by the CWC at the Mandarin Oriental, was an exception. One still hears glowing praises for the musical which featured as Kim Angeli Ong, daughter-in-law of special events chair Helen Ong; Juan Miguel Ongsiako, son of Nori, as Chris, and not the least, the Brazilian Counselor Carlos de Carvalho as The Engineer.
CWC President Alice Briones is still on Cloud Nine!