Belo goes Chinese

Bo. Mapuntod. Who would have wanted to live in a place with a name like that?

After pouring concrete on most parts of it and changing its name, it has become a fashionable residential area — with a commercial complex in its center. The place is now called Greenhills.

I had fond memories of Greenhills as a child. My family used to live in a quieter section of Sta. Mesa where Randy, Rowell and Raymart Santiago were neighbors.

For our weekly groceries, we went to a supermarket in Shaw Boulevard — until my mother got gypped of 25 centavos by the cashier and swore off the establishment. She had reason to complain: 25 centavos bought a lot in those days when a kilo of imported steak cost only P16.

In our search for a new supermarket, we discovered Uni-Mart, which had just opened then. Saturday mornings were spent there buying everything we needed for the house. It was very convenient for our family because everything was under one roof: From bath soaps to chandeliers.

That was the time we were having the house renovated and my parents bought a pair of German crystal chandeliers there for P550 each (5 to 6 bulbs per set). My Mom was even having second thoughts back then because she found those expensive and way out of their renovation budget. Those turned out to be great investments because the lighting fixtures are still around decades later.

Even after we had moved to Quezon City, we still went to Uni-Mart for our groceries because it was only a 20-minute drive from La Vista. Today, it still takes me 20 minutes to get to the Flawless branch beside Uni-Mart — from nearby North Greenhills.

But in spite of the traffic, it is still convenient to be staying in Greenhills because it is in the center of the metropolis.

I remember when Rosanna Roces and Dr. Vicki Belo were still friends and Osang would nag me to go to the doctora’s clinic because I never took care of my skin even if I was already doing TV. To remove the muck off my face after every show, I used rubbing alcohol and that horrified Osang.

“Belo just opened a branch in Timog — very close to GMA,” Osang barked at me. “That’s not very far.” I still didn’t go (but I go there now because they have the multi-polar machine for the abs).

One day, Dr. Belo herself surprised me: “We just opened a branch in Greenhills.” Within days, I paid the place a visit and it became a second home to me. That was eight years ago.

Last June, they closed Belo Greenhills for renovation. Clients were farmed out to Belo Megamall and Podium — and, yes, in Morato.

But to the relief of the Belo regulars from the Greenhills area, the clinic finally reopened last Tuesday — with a lot of fanfare. It’s now business as usual in that branch of Belo located at 51 Connecticut (pronounced without the second C).

Dr. Belo chose to go Chinese for that occasion because most of the Greenhills clients are, well, Chinese. Most Chinese made their homes there because Greenhills is believed to be where the head of the dragon is located and that is supposed to be lucky. Geologically, I was also told that the ground in Greenhills is stable and safer than most other areas in Metro Manila during earthquakes. 

Leading the Belo reopening rites was a long-time Greenhills resident herself (since 1973), Lily Monteverde. She was assisted by daughter Roselle and other respected members of the local Chinese community: Angie Tan, Andrew Gan and Kevin and Letty Tan. Of course, most of the Belo doctors were there: Philip Bunag, Maricar Cruz, Sheila Acosta and Guada Santos.

Belo media director Leah Salterio and liaison Madz Alegado encouraged guests to come in Chinese-inspired attire. I was lucky to have remembered that I had hanging in my closet a shirt from the clothes apparel (Jewels) I used to endorse. It had been there for five years — unused. The shirt is Chinese-inspired and has a pointed collar. I wore it to the Belo affair and came in as a Chinese Elvis Presley.

While most guests didn’t come in Chinese costumes (at least, Atom Henares did), everyone had fun and enjoyed listening to the songs of Richard Poon, Christian Bautista and Matteo Guidicelli.

The other guests spotted in that colorful affair were the esteemed Larry Henares, Dingdong Dantes, Karylle, Albert, Liezl and Alyssa Martinez, Flawless lady boss Rubby Sy, brand consultant, Jacqui Thng, Richard Gomez, Marco Mañalac, AJ Perez, Sam Concepcion, Divine Lee, Lhar Santiago, Mario Dumaual, Gorgy Rula, Gretchen Fullido, Victor Basa, Angelu de Leon, Jenny Miller, Phoemela Barranda, Donita Rose, Joji Dingcong and Jeffrey Ventura, Dr. Belo’s new feng shui expert, who must be doing a good job because I notice that Vicki’s life seems so much in order now — and I’m happy for her. World-renowned pianist Rowena Arrieta and husband Jonathan Policarpio and their children Josheb and Isabel — all the way from New York — also graced the affair that was hosted by Raya Mananquil.

Most scrutinized, however, was Cristalle Henares’ boyfriend, the Lebanese Moussa Abdayem, who must have been given stern warning by the members of the Belo group to take care of our little girl. Like the typical Chinese family, the Belo friends are also closely-knit. We look after each other — yes, like most Chinese.