The BulongPulungan friends and “harem” of the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde gather for a fellowship last Jan. 14. (Photo by SANDEE MASIGAN)

“A great man is someone who makes you feel great.” --G. K. Chesterton

This was said of the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde who will be buried today in his hometown, Argao in Cebu, by one of his friend priests  at a mass  offered by media friends led by NBN-4, IBC 13 and RPN 9.True, he made everyone around him feel “great.”

He became my late Hubby’s occasional golf buddy and my good friend and regular text mate for inspirational “ Angel Thoughts.” Cerge tried his best to be a truemedia  professional in his work  in a toxic and hazardous environment—speaking for the President. He made flubs, true, but he took brickbats and sometimes even objects hurled at him, manly.

He respected divergent media opinions and while he was frustrated in not being able to communicate the positive news about his Lady Boss and the government’s programs, he carried on valiantly, always with a smile . Unknown to many, he was a man of faith and quite prayerful . He supported the Missionaries of Blessed Mother Teresa quietly for his once found comfort in their adoration chapel in Tagayaty before his delicate spine surgery several years ago.

“Kapatid” Cerge was especially close to our BulongPulungan media group and he told us atour  dinner on Thursday, Jan, 14,  for one of our members, newly-named spokesperson of PGMA, CharitoPlanas, that he was looking forward to July l ( The president steps down June 30) when he will be a private citizen again. “ I will be a regular member of BulongPulungan and you will see me there every week!”

Thank you Maret, for sharing your husband with all of us. He made us friends feel great when he was around, and us, his “harem” at BulongBulungan, so special!

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Tomorrow is the 77th birthday of everybody’s “Tita Cory.”

Over 300 masses around the country and abroad will be offered for her by family, friends and admirers.CoryVets , short for Cory Veterans , are making sure that she will be remembered in the way she would have wanted it—through the mass. And she would have added, include in the intention, our country and clean and honest elections and the victims of natural disasters, like the earthquake in Haiti.

In Manila, the first statue of Cory will be unveiled at the corner of Burgos and Port Area road, a stone’s throw from Manila Hotel , beside that of Senator Ninoy.

The bronze statue was commissioned by her friend and ally, Manila Mayor Fred Lim (as was Ninoy’s likeness)  and was shown to Senator Noynoy and his sister Pinky Abellada (the other siblings were unavailable at the time). Happily,  aside from a bit of re-touching of her hair (“Too thick” was the joint comment), it was “approved“ to be cast.

This afternoon at 5 p.m. the lobby and atrium of the Ayala Museum in Greenbelt will turn yellow for the launching of the Jaime Zobel Cory Swatch watch. Yes, finally, an affordable Swiss-made watch in honor of the Icon of Democracy! Zobel , if Swatch fanatics remember, designed the Philippine Centennial  Collector’s watch.

This is your chance to buy the first-editions Cory watches. This after the collectors’ line of Cory phones by SolidbandCorporation which is flying off the shelves too. This phone comes with the audio of her famous speeches. And Ninoy’s too!

And at the Glorietta atrium, the photo exhibit of Sonny Camarillo is a “must”. It shows Cory “Through the years, Through the lens.” Brilliant photojournalism by one of the country’s best practioners! Thanks to the help of EDSA People Power Commissioner and Spirit of EDSA founder, Chris Carrion, Sonny was able to put together the extensive photo collection of the best of his Cory photos. And also just opened yesterday, still another photo exhibit, this time from her long time "close-in" photographer Val Rodriguez and those from her personal files.

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NOTES…The Spanish Embassy and the Instituto de Cervantes  will present world junior champion in piano, Angelo Ortiz in a major concert at the Meralco theater. Ortiz will be backed up by the youthful wind symphony orchestra , the Band, 31, conducted by  Michael Jacinto. Other young musicians hand-picked by Ortiz who is a grantee of the  Spanish Program for Cultural and Cooperation are saxophonist Dr. Michael Young and classical artists Paolo Alcantara and Lowell Lalic. 

The all- Spanish repertoire  for the concert entitled “Variaciones Classicas Espanolas-piano de concierto” was given new twists and interpretation by the 25-year-old pianist.  He will be playing famous piano solos and  several pieces accompanied by Banda 31 which is a second and third generation band from Malolos, Bulacan.

Those interested in attending can call 645-1450 or 0908-7698340.