“A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.”
    “Father- to God Himself we cannot give a holier name.”
William Wordsworth Longfellow   

Yesterday, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and the entire clergy of his Diocese hosted Papal Nuncio Edward Joseph Adams in Balayan, Batangas  for the opening of the Vatican-declared Year of Priests until June, 2010.

A happy coincidence, don’t you think, for the secular celebration of International Father’s Day today! Priests are our spiritual fathers, so let’s also give them our wholehearted support as we do our daddies, papas, “itays,” “amas! “     
 
As for me, I will soak up the essence of  my Beloved amid the  rolling fog in our home on the ridge today and  say, “Thank you , Hubby, for being the best Dad to our love-fruits!”  So to all the fathers out here hug your children today , forgive them their ‘sins’ against you and ask that they forgive you your ‘offenses’ against them too!

Tonight too, at the historic Fiesta Pavillion of the Manila Hotel, a concert, “Keys to the Heart” featuring pianist David Osbourne from the US and home talents like the Angelos,  Joey Lina, MH president, and others for the Scala Santa chapel at Fr. Fernando Suarez’  Monte Maria in Batangas City  This is presented by Architect and developer Nestor Mangio with producer Beth Tagle.

And on the 29th of this month, Arch. Arguelles will lead the blessing of the St. Peter the Apostle church n Fr. Suarez’ hometown, the once-sleepy barangay, Botong in Taal at 10 a.m. The day marks the fiesta of Botong and  there will be a program at the plaza fronting the church put together by the Special Events Committee of the Foundation led by Paz Monteclaro . Performers who have offered their service ‘pro bono’ for Fr. Suarez’ town mates include Ivy Vilan, The Angelos fresh from their concerts in the US, Hongkong and Macau, Mica Torre, and will be hosted by Manila Councilor and tele-serye star, Lou Veloso. 
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Allow me, as a PWU alumna,(Kindergarten up to Grade lll),  to greet former senator and now Board Chairman Helena Z. Benitez a very happy 95th birthday this Thursday.

The grand lady of the academe, arts, international relations and legislature, still spry and sharp, will be feted with a musical presentation at the Conrado Benitez Hall at the Taft campus by the Doctor of Education Alumni Chapter led by its president, Dr. Lulu Trias with the Philippine Home Economics Foundation, Inc.. 

Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, and the school chaplain, Fr. Artemio Fabros will con-celebrate mass  to begin the celebration. There will be testimonials from prominent alumni like DENR Secretary LitoAtienza, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, educator Dr. Vivian Talisayon, Amb. Rosario Manalo, Atty. Charito Planas, Amelia Alonto, and Dr. Manuel Alba, representing the Board of  Trustees.

PWU-grown artists like the Bayanihan Dance Company, JASMS Rondalla and the PWU High School Ensemble  and others will perfom. On her birthday itself on June 27, the celebration shifts to her residence, Mira-Nila where her nieces and nephews are mobilizing a tribute and mass in her honor.. The program will be hosted by Cory Quirino and Cheche Lazaro.
A post birthday activity is the turn-over and blessing of a multi-purpose hall at the GK Paraiso Village named after her in Trece Martires in Cavite . Cheers! “HB!”
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    Now…Memo to myself… this is the best time to travel, as there are lots of good airline and hotel rates, especially  to that glitzy, techie, super-clean and disciplined city-state, Singapore. More attractions, more shopping at ritzy new malls, more bargains!

For starters, if you use Singapore Airlines to go to anywhere in the world, you can stop over in Singapore for an additional US $ 1 for a one night stop-over!  How can you beat that!

There’s more…customers taking advantage of the Fabulous Singapore Stopover  will be given $10 vouchers for their shopping at the Changi Airport and free ground transfers to and from the 20 major tourist attractions (free admissions too). These  include Sentosa Island, Singapore Zoo, Malay Heritage Centre, National Orchid  Garden, Pranakan Musuem, Singapore River Bumboat tour and Jurong Bird Park..

As I said, now is the time to visit Singapore. I was one of those invited  by the Singapore Tourism Board Area Director for  Philippines and Brunei  Lynelle Seow  and Singapore Airlines’ country representative, Kenneth Tan, to a delicious Chinese lauriat at the Tower Club where we listened to the promotional  pitch and video  to visit Singapore. (Tried to anyway, the food was so good, you see.)

And yes, wow, it seems to me from the last time I was there, it has re-invented itself again!

Hmmmm alright,, I am planning a visit there very soon as I was very lucky that auspicious day and won the grand prize of a ticket on Singapore Air Lines. Economy class but given the legendary service of the airlines, I expect a very pleasant flight. And I look forward to staying in the Shop House suite of the Hotel  Intercontinental . I hear the concept of a former shop being turned into a luxurious hotel room is really very interesting! Well, let’s see.

Besides, my youngest son AJ who is a computer artist, will be training there for the next six months! Need I any other additional reasons to go visit Singapore more often?

According to Lynell, Filipinos make up a big bulk of their 10 plus million tourists yearly, and we do have a sizeable number of  OFWs there, in all levels of the Singapore work force. There are more sweet and “suite” deals on the way to other parts of the world , so check it out with Singapore Airlines!