Said its dynamic President Alice Briones in her speech, "Unlike other CWC activities this annual Tea party is not fund-raising. This is traditionally organized as the venue to see old friends, meet new ones, an opportunity to invite benefactors and some beneficiaries but most specially for CWC members to have fun, develop camaraderie and bonding."

She continued: "This afternoon’s tea was organized by our hardworking and dedicated Annual Tea Committee Chairman Tessie Amparo together with her members Lita Gelano, Celine Bautista, Fanny Blanco, and Linda Villadelgado. These are the members who made this memorable and enjoyable tea party possible."

President Alice Briones also acknowledged the presence of Sister Savita and Sister Mary who are taking care of the sick, disabled and abandoned children in Elsie Gaches Village, one of their major beneficiaries.

Utterly delightful was the show of the evening, excerpts from Lerner and Loewe’s "My Fair Lady" with Chinggoy Alonzo as Prof. Higgins, Leo Martinez as Mr. Doolittle, and surprise, surprise! – Myrna Borromeo (my favorite Miss Philippines) as Eliza Doolittle!

She sang and acted beautifully, not in any way shaded by the veteran professionals, Chinggoy Alonzo and Leo Martinez.

Touching was the awarding of certificate of merit by First Lady of Makati City Dra. Elenita Binay to Carmen Klinger, Mercedes Gonzalez and Consuelo Preysler, who have served the CWC for 50 years or more.

The well-written Invocation as read by Msgr. Matt Garcia, Paris Priest of Immaculate Concepcion, Tayuman, Tondo with George Drysdale who did the "Our Father." New members were inducted by CWC Special Adviser Imelda O. Cojuangco. Present also were active CWC male members art patron Danny Dolor and designer Boysie Villavicencio.

It was a sumptuous dinner we enjoyed at the wedding dinner party of brilliant Chinese Filipino composer Jeffrey Ching and the very successful opera singer Spanish-Filipino Andion Fernandez.

Impromptu singing was done by tenors Frankie Aseniero, Nolyn Cabahug, and baritone Nomer Son and Jonathan Zaens assisted at the piano by Reynalo Reyes.

Speeches were delivered by the bridegroom’s father Alfredo Chin in (Spanish, Chinese, and English), the bride’s father Atty. Javier Fernandez, toasts were given by Winnifred Ching Laude and Ma Celia Fernandez-Estavillo (sisters of the newly-wed) and to everybody’s delight Andion herself sang a lyrical song in Chinese "I Love China" with Dr. Theo Saye at the piano.

Earlier, the wedding ceremony at the Santuario de San Antonio, turned out to be a grand musical concert. Jeffrey having composed a Holy Mass especially for the occasion with baritone Jonathan Zaens, the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra, San Miguel Master Chorale, organist Armando Salaza, choir master Eudenice Palaruan under baton of Dr. Theo Saye – a very beautiful composition, very highly edifying, a composition worthy of the musical genius, Jeffrey Ching.

Among the music lovers present were Gilopez Kabayao and daughter Farida, Dr. Raul Sunico, Fides Cuyugan Asencio, Nena Villanueva, Amelita Guevarra and Menchu Padilla to name a few.

Some 1,000 to 1,500 musicians in 12 Asian countries and territories try out each year for the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO), 15 being the youngest and 25, oldest. The AYO is designed to ignite a pride in what can be achieved by Asian musicians in Asia. It’s aim to expose Asia’s brightest young musicians to rich and varied artistic experiences that include rare opportunities for exchange, study and performance.

This year a total of 107 musicians will be together for six weeks starting July 17, initially for a threeweek Rehearsal Camp in Hong Kong. And the AYO will embark on a tour of 18 concerts in three weeks in 7 Asian countries.

For this year’s concert tour, the AYO will perform two all-orchestral programs, one to be conducted by Maestro Commissiona and the other by Richard Potzious, artistic director of AYO. The programs are intended to feature and showcase all sections of the orchestra, dramatically demonstrating the commitment, dedication and extraordinary talent of every AYO member.

Seven Filipinos will join this year’s batch of AYO: Ariston Payte (contrabass); Rodel Hernandez, Saturnino Tiamson Jr., (percussionists); Ma. Victoria Regalario, Maurice Ivan Saraza (violinists); Floyd Ricafrente (flutist); and Joven Tidon (double bass player).

The concert here in Manila will be on August 17-18, 2004 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.