President Fidel Ramos flanked by hosts Josie Rufino, Ching Montinola and Menchu Concepcion

The beautiful De las Alas sisters, social luminaries, Ching Montinola and Menchu Concepcion, together with Josie Padilla Rufino, hosted a book tribute event held recently at the Philippine Columbian.  Josie, as everyone knows, is the daughter of Lily de las Alas Padilla.

The book is entitled “The Small Man with a Tall Shadow: Don Antonio de las Alas,” and the speakers represented the businesses and organizations  Don Antonio was associated with. Alexander Padilla, son of Ambrosio Padilla introduced the speakers, and among them were: Speaker Jose de Venecia,  Atty. Andy Bautista, President of Yale University,  Cong. Jose Cojuangco, President of the Phil. Olympic Committee,  Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, Secretary Cesar Virata, (Don Antonio was the Finance Secretary of the Central Bank then), Gov. Vilma Santos Recto, Atty. Miguel Varela, President of Philippine Chamber of Commerce, and Atty. Eduardo Caniza, President of Philippine Columbian.  

Daughter Ching said in her speech:  On this 120th birth anniversary, we would like to pay tribute to him and share with you the life of a man who had left a rich legacy of righteousness, integrity and love for his country and fellowmen… the book is a celebration of life, so passionate and well lived, that we hope it can bring inspiration and hope.”