A marvelous weekend with Fr. Fernando Suarez

CEBU, Philippines - I left for Manila one Friday to catch the Saturday Dance Performance of renowned prima ballerina, Lisa Macuja Elizalde, together with some Russian dance superstars at the Aliw Theatre, which is owned by business tycoon Fred Elizalde.

I took the opportunity to text Fr. Fernando Suarez about my coming over but his reply was an invitation to come with him to the Manila Polo Club to attend the birthday celebration of Forbes Park’s socialite Pitang Lopez Tiongson. The party started with a Mass assisted by Fr. Javy Javines and then there was a mini-concert and all the gifts and proceeds for the birthday celebration was donated to Fr. Suarez’ Foundation for the Poor and his huge project in Tagaytay.

I was really fascinated by the very stunning, elegant and wealthy guests who attended the affair.

TV talk show host Johnny Litton, the emcee of the short program, acknowledged and introduced me to the elite crowd as an international artist who was sent as the first Filipino dance scholar to Russia, sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, through former first lady Imelda R. Marcos.

I thought that God must have rewarded me for the two Masses I attended that day.

Truly, it was a night of glitter, glory and splendor.