“I have learned that
people will forget what you said ,
people will forget what you did;
but people will never  forget
how you made them feel.

Share your blessings!”

Lito Casaul, NAIA

That’s right dear readers, make the SVD missionary priests of the Mission Angels and the cancer patients and survivors of the Joy in Living Foundation folks happy by going to their concert this Thursday at the Meralco Theater at 6:30 p.m.

The angels and the joy–givers to cancer patients and survivors are featuring top-class musicians and singers - violinist John P. Lesaca, sax legend Eddie K., soprano Pinky Marzquez, tenor Ramon Acoymothe who is also U.P. College of Music dean and a multi-Aliw awardee, “best instrumentalist” Nonoy Libanan, commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration in a pre-Christmas concert, and another Aliw awardee for being “the best singing group in a major concert” - the Angelos. This  group of four talented young singers, George, Miguel Louie and Paolo  recently arrived from a Canadian and US tour of some 18 cities and concerts, including one where former president Jimmy Carter came and another one with international pianist, David Osbourne.

Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, heads the Mission Office and he and the other Filipino missionaries are helping spread the gospel worldwide. They need help, as do the cancer patients, survivors and caregivers that the Joy in Living Foundation are helping nurture. Call Fr. Jerry at the SVD Mission Office or Dr. Lorina Cabaluna at the Pain Management clinic at the Manila Doctors Hospital.

Am I part of the concert? Yes, for I believe in the twin causes and my beloved Sonny was a founding member and treasurer of the Mission Angels. My family is marking his fourth anniversary the day before the concert with a morning mass at the Maria de la Strada church where his urn is in the garden columbary, so please remember him in your prayers.

Speaking of concerts, I went to the Aliw Awards the other evening and so I saw Libanan and the Angelos receive their well-deserved awards, as did Hall of Famers like Rochelle Gerodias, John Lesaca, violinist Gilopez Kabayao (why isn’t he a National Artist) special awardees Chingoy Alonzo et. al. I wondered though why Beth Sison - Tagle and Charo Yu were not given due recognition such as citations as past presidents Leo Baluyot and Alice Reyes were? They weren’t even called on stage to be presentors!

Hey, Beth revived the Aliw Awards which disappeared for ten years because an officer ran away with its funds! The Aliw started during the Marcos years and I was  part of it with our entertainment editor under Leo Baluyot’s leadership. To bring back credibility to Aliw, Beth put in hard-working  officers including now NCCA director Cecile Alvarez and congresswoman Sandy Ocampo. Now it seems the lost luster is coming back, thanks to Beth’s and Charo’s productive years of service to the local entertainment industry as well as the efforts of the present crop of Aliw leaders including its chairman, Butch Pichay, LUWA administrator, But let’s give credit where it’s due!

I rather enjoyed the evening rooting for my friends who won awards even if the ceremonies were too long for my mood that night. I also like the recognition of a local musical, “I am Ninoy” which won two awards. But I could have done without the pathetic dinner which made me even hungrier than when I arrived. Yes, we paid for our dinner, so I have no qualms complaining about its quality!

* * *
Just hours before her departure to Singapore to participate in the APEC meeting as coordinator for the US-APEC grouping, a “first” incidentally, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo found time to sign two bills – the anti-torture and the total log ban in Leyte - meet with economic advisers on the lifting of oil price freeze (and announce its lifting effective) and some time in between, sit down to a social lunch with several of us media women from the Bulong Pulungan Sa Sofitel forum.

“Strictly chicka-han,” she told her press secretary, our “sultan” Cerge Remonde when she requested her appointments secretary to schedule the long-overdue tete-a-tete. It was our third such gathering and,  I hope,  not our last with her before she turns over the affairs of the state  to her successor.

She was happy with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit, brief as it was. They are “old acquaintances” but Bill Clinton even more so, as she and the ex- American president were classmates in Georgetown University. She was only one of two female students so she had happy memories of parties, dorm living …etc. Hilary was not yet in Bill’s life as they met when she was taking up law and he also decided to pursue the same calling. The rest was destiny for the Rodham girl and Bill Clinton.

The Palace, incidentally, is now empty of the evacuees whom the President gave shelter to after Ondoy (they have been relocated). It’s back to its elegant self, no traces of the families who lived there in the grand Ceremonial Hall and had the run of the place.

We discovered something that lunch – the “secret” of the Palace in-house cuisine, chef Babes Austria. A lawyer-accountant, she and the President go a long way back. They were together in her DSWD stint and Babes handled the tedious job of overseas grants, local disburses, etc. When Vice president Gloria assumed the presidency after Estrada’s resignation, there was a need for someone credible and efficient in the DBM and she thought of Babes.

When she was asked to join the Arroyo government, Babes said “yes” but as a chef! She explained that she had given up accounting as she had changed careers. The President gladly took her in and the results have been yummy meals at reasonable costs, something PGMA insisted on. Having an in-house chef who can cater even to VIP visitors like Hilary Clinton has saved money, President Gloria proudly revealed.

Palace guests like us who finished off  the  grilled salmon fillet with caper cream sauce, “dalandan” essence with broccoli flan and tomato confit with “kesong puti” and  roasted duck breast  can attest to Babes’ culinary skills and artistry in presenting everyday fare.  

What do Babes and her boss Gloria have in common? Both are very cost-conscious!

* * *
On Sunday, I pay tribute to my aunt, Nelly Intengan Jhocson who turns a grand 92 years old! Still spry, witty, and as clear-visioned as any 20 year old, Tita Nelly, the youngest sibling of my mom, Nena,  has outlived- her husband Teodoro, her brothers Jesus and Flavio (who incidentally was one of the first Filipino law graduates.