NEW YORK – After covering the two “Wowowillie” shows at Lake Tahoe’s Harrah & Harvey’s Outdoor Arena and Seattle’s Tacoma Dome, we proceeded to the Big Apple for our annual vacation and to visit our son Lester and his family.

It was a relaxing two-week respite from work – the daily pressure of deadline and all – and what made it relaxing and delightful was bonding with our grandsons, Ethan Elijah who’s four (turning five next year on Jan. 9) and Dylan Gabriel (who’ll be two on Feb. 9). Actually, we were a “babysitter” for two weeks but we enjoyed the job. Since Ethan is already in school (Pre-K at PS/IS 295 along Jamaica Ave.), I also had to bring him to his class and after two hours, had to fetch him too. It was a daily regimen that he looked forward to and always there was sparkle in his eyes when he saw his two doting lolas at the lobby when he came out of his classroom. On the way home, he would regal us with stories – what he did in school, like what he ate, what he played with and what he read. His teacher, Mrs.Hummel, was amazed that at four, Ethan could read anything!

Anyway, the regimen was broken only once when we had to go to Manhattan to meet with friends: Bobby Yalong for lunch and Jansen Macalindong for dinner.

As always, Bobby who brought along his good friend Luchie Vivas, who is vice president for finance at the Financial Security Assurance, Inc., opted to have lunch at a Japanese restaurant just across the Philippine Center along Fifth Ave. Jansen, on the other hand, with friends Sonny Bustamante and Herbert Magtoto, brought me, our son Lester and his wife Brenda to dinner at the Rockefeller Center. Soon, the place will be converted into an ice-skating rink for the winter season.

Our visit was in time for another art exhibit of which Bobby was part of. Along with his latest paintings, also on exhibit was Bobby’s award-winning acrylic work of a man riding his carabao and on his way home as the sun is setting down. The painting won second prize in a recent competition.

Bobby, who was among others a talent manager and one of the most popular fashion designers in Manila before he migrated to the US in 2001 (he became a US citizen in 2006), discovered he also has a talent for painting during breaks of his “babysitting” chores for his apos. And to make the most of his time, and so he won’t get bored, “my wife Venny and my sons bought painting paraphernalia for me,” Bobby said. When he got busy with his painting and subsequent exhibits, “I resigned as babysitter,” he laughed.

Aside from painting, Bobby also writes (he was formerly the editor-in-chief of Global Phils., a Filipino publication based in New Jersey), and does PR job for concerts like “Divas4Divas” and now, the Gary Valenciano/Martin Nievera show slated at Taj Mahal in Atlantic City on Oct. 24. This is produced by Group Olay.

The “Divas4Divas” concert of Kuh Ledesma, Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Pops Fernandez was produced by MPG Productions which also produced Sharon Cuneta’s “Mega@30.” MPG Productions is headed by Mely P. Gabriel, who’s a cousin of Gabby Concepcion.

Bobby, by the way, will receive on Oct. 11 an award for being “Outstanding in Arts and Fashion” from the Pan-American Concerned Citizens League (PACCAL). The awarding event will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Newark, New Jersey. Two years ago, Bobby also received an award from the Phil-American Expo as “Outstanding Personality in Journalism and Mass Media.”

Another awarded New Yorker

Another good friend of ours, who we don’t fail to visit whenever we are in the Big Apple, is Ms. Gloria Cabrera (our new hairdo is courtesy of her!). We caught up with her at her very first beauty salon and spa, located along 23rd St. (between 1st & 2nd Aves.) which she established in l973. She also had another well-patronized salon along Fifth Ave. but when her lease expired after more than a decade, she moved it to 3 East 44th St. (between Madison and 5th Ave.). Gloria uses her own line of beauty products which she intends to launch in the Philippines when she comes over before the year ends.

The Gloria Cabrera Salon and Spa has been rated by Glamour Magazine as one of the Top 40 Salons in the US. Its clientele includes people of all ages and status, also among them are dignitaries and heads of states like the late Pres. Cory Aquino and Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The late socialite Chito Madrigal and other members of the Madrigal clan also counted among Gloria’s VIP clients. Ms. Loida Nicolas Lewis was a client as well.

Gloria was the recipient of the Business Woman Award from the Asian-American Democrats Association of Queens, NY. And last July 4, she received another award, this time from the Association of Philippine Physicians in American (APPA), then headed by Dr. Francis Talangbayan, during their 38th Annual Convention and scientific seminar and gala held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Penn.

Though she is a busy person, Gloria finds time to do civic and philanthropic activities like fundraising events for Filipino victims of tragedies like the families affected by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. She continues to help Gawad Kalinga and does her own personal charities. This October, she’s spearheading a fund-raising event for the benefit of calamity victims in her hometown in Pampanga.

Fashion exhibit at Philippine Center

We also came upon an old friend, Rene M. Tiongco at the Philippine Center. Rene was there to produce a fashion exhibit featuring the latest creations of five young Filipino designers: Alyssa Buendia, Sidney Eculla, Huse Mara, Athena Colico-Tandoc and Pamela Villapando, with the special participation of Edgar Allan.

“We want to showcase not only their designs but Philippine fabrics,” Rene said. The exhibit ended last Friday (Oct. 9).

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Civic leader makes quality time with her family

Our dear friend, Gov. Leonida “Baby” Bayani-Ortiz of the Philippine National Red Cross (formerly Lions governor too), has always led a busy and hectic schedule on account of her many activities as a socio-civic leader.

But when she marked her milestone recently, she saw to it that she spent quality time with her family. They had an intimate dinner at the very elegant Prince Albert of Hotel Intercontinental in Makati. Needless to say, dinner was sumptuous and the atmosphere formal yet delightful.

Helping her celebrate was husband Hon. Justo M. Ortiz, former Presidential Adviser on Civic Affairs. And to her delight, all her grandchildren (Blaine, Charlie, Zach, and Iya) surprised her with a tribute to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Baby is Mama Babes to her grandchildren.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Oct. 11 go to Mr. Public Service “Kuya” Daniel Razon of UNTV, Ricardo Cepeda and his twin Richard, Ed Santillan, Pat Cabiling, Baby Aguilar, Dianne Eugenio, Johnson Robert, Dr. Miles dela Rosa, Jan Carlo Tobias, Terry Lim and MB’s Myra Liezl Abando. Happy wedding anniversary to Roy and Minnie Seneres, and Oscar and Bootsie Violago.