Hopefully though, the memories shall remain. They shall indeed for French Ambassador Renee Veyret whose short tour of visit here (just three years!) will long be remembered by the many friends she has made here. Alas, poor health cut her mission short here.
So, five lady consuls ad honorem in Manila hosted a party to say "au revoir" at the North Forbes residence of Angola Consul a.h. Helen Ong and her husband Dr. Sonny Ong. Helen and her buddies, Consul Mellie Ablaza of Guatemala, Evie Costa of Togo, Agnes Huibonhua fo Gambia, and Fortune Ledesma of Monaco invited some of Ambassdor Veyret’s Manila friends to merienda cena.
In fact, it was a totally "hen party" with ladies from the diplomatic circle, in government, in business and media only. Mandarin Oriental Hotel catered the cocktail buffet where wines and juices flowed.
Vince Laborra played romantic melodies on his saxophone which specially delighted the guest of honor who, it turns out, also plays the sax.
Amb. Veyret left that weekend for Paris, her hometown.
We also said farewell to Ambassador of China Wu Hongbo who left for home (Shanghai) after the briefest mission of one and a half years. Yet in that short period, the Chinese ambassador made many friends in government and the business sector so much so we are told that Amb. Wu Hongbo shall be up for a promotion when he gets home.
My brother, Philippine Star publisher Maximo V. Soliven and his wife Ambassador Preciosa S. Soliven hosted a despedida for Amb. Wu Hongbo at the OB Montessori school in Greenhills where the faculty members staged a live diorama of the Philippines.
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A TIME FOR NOSTALGIA. For the first time in 25 years (oh dear, has it been that long?), former students of St. Theresa’s College Manila will come "home" to their original campus on San Marcelino St., in Ermita, Manila.
Since STC Manila closed its doors in 1980 and sold the San Marcelino campus and buildings to Adamson University, I would wince everytime I passed the old school. The buildings are still there, barely touched by the new owners, but the signs had changed and so had the students.
I refused to go to the "homecomings" held at the STC Quezon City campus because it was never "home" to me.
Well, STCM is calling all its alumnae to a "College Day @ San Marcelino" on Oct. 15 (Saturday) at the odl campus in San Marcelino, Ermita. This unexpected homecoming coincides with STCM’s 90th founding anniversary.
"College Day" was the traditional school fair in celebration of the feast of the school’s patron saint, Teresa of Avila. Like the College Days of yore, this year’s event will be held in the school quadrangle.
There will be snack stalls, a tiangge, bingo, atbp. Mass shall start the day in the old school chapel, followed by a program where the STC revival project will be announced, and then, lunch.
Tickets at R500 are available through class representatives and at the gate.
For inquiries, call the STCM Foundation at 884–2909 or email stcmfound@pacific.net.ph.
Bring your cameras…. It may be your last chance to take photos of the old alma mater, the way we were, the way it was.
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BY THE WAY…. Birthday greetings this week go to — book author/ publisher Lily Gamboa O’Boyle, artist Ral Arrogante, my endocrinologist Dr. Thelma Crisostomo, Malu Maglutac, today, Oct. 10; prolific author Ronnie Alejandro of New York, Joy Maloles, Edna Garibay, Oct. 11; actress Pilar Pilapil, Rudy Bautista, Oct. 12; congressional wife Aleta Suarez, sportscaster Quinito Henson, Letty Ruiz, Marrot Moreno, Gigi Galang, Oct. 13; my good friend Cindy R. Velez, talents manager Norma Japitana, Jess Sison, Lita Faustino, Oct. 14; SM Chairman Henry Sy Sr., congressional spouse Pacita T. Gonzalez, newsmen Bill Formoso and Ernie Tolentino, advertising exec Ed Ramirez, my sister Tessa Soliven Lara in Iowa, Oct. 15 … Greetings to Representative Hsin–hsing Wu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines on the 94th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) today, Oct. 10 known also as a "Double Ten" holiday… only those who have been ill appreciate the meaning of the words "health is wealth." Take care of your health. Start with a SMILE!
