A holiday rendezvous

"Our prayers are answered not when we are given what we ask but when we are challenged to be what we can be." – Morris Adler

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Christmas music filled the grand ballroom of Mandarin Oriental, Manila during the Sound of Christmas Yuletide Dinner Concert organized by the Sayaw Foundation. Spearheading the event were president Mita Rufino; committee chair and Sayaw’s founding chair Helen Ong; vice presidents Yaying Dragon and Zeny Cabral; treasurer Sol Tan-Gatue; secretary Nini Layug; and committee members Tess Rodrigo and Boysie Villavicencio.

Tenor Nolyn Cabahug; the Philippine Ballet Theater; the Philippine Madrigal Singers; and the 747 Band regaled the more than 200 guests.

Guests included Belgian Ambassador Christian Tanghe and his wife Gül; Canadian Ambassador Robert Collette and his wife Marilyn; German Ambassador Herbert Jess and his wife Micheline; Brazilian Ambassador Claudio Lyra; Italian Ambassador Umberto Colesanti and his wife Clara; Mexican Ambassador Enrique Hubbard; and Consul of Togo Evie Costa.

Also present were Mandarin Oriental, Manila GM Helmut Gaisberger who helped organize the concert; Jun and Nancy Tambunting; former First Lady Imelda Marcos; Berna Lomotan; Mon and Justa Tantoco; Nedy Tantoco; Diana Jeanne Lopez; Tereret Liboro; Nene Leonor; Maritess Pineda; Chloe Periquet; George and May Neri; Daisy Payumo; Inday del Rosario; Giging Garcia; Babot Oreta; Tessie Rodrigo; Beng Puyat; Cynthia Henson; Museo Pambata’s Nina Lim-Yuson; Cherry Limcaoco; Mean Gangcayco; Thelma Gana; Ces Manalo; Nori Ongsiako; Lulu Castañeda; and Tess Castro. The event’s generous sponsors included social philanthropist Imelda Cojuangco and Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco, among others.

Founded in 1998, the Sayaw Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of the Filipino dance artists. It aims to support, cultivate and develop Filipino ballet and dance performers.

The Businessmen’s Choice

Hardworking business wiz Washington "Wash" Sycip helped your columnist come up with a fabulous guest list for the by-invitation-only introduction of the BMW Club 7 and the World’s Best Driving Experience: The BMW 7 Li Series in a private lounge specially constructed for the event.

Leave it to the dapper and charming Wash to create a guest list people only dream about: SGV’s Cesar Purisima; First Philippine Holdings Corp.’s Oscar Lopez; PLDT’s Manny Pangilinan; shipping magnate Doris Magsaysay-Ho; Phinma Group’s Ambassador Ramon del Rosario and Oscar Hilado; lawyer Ricardo Romulo; MacroAsia Corp.’s Joseph Chua; JG Summit Holdings, Inc.’s John Gokongwei; Filinvest Development Corp.’s Andrew Gotianun; retail magnate Henry Sy; Planters Development Bank’s Ambassador Jesus Tambunting; Renato Valencia; Manuel Lopez; George Yang; and Roberto de Ocampo, among others.

Leave it to Wash to bring only the best to the best!

Greetings

Happy birthday to our celebrator today, Jayelles Holdings (Phils.), Inc.’s vice president Allan Litton.

Belated happy birthday Stacey Nicole Reyes, last Jan. 9. Advanced birthday greetings to MOD’s big boss Cynthia Santiago and Conrad Calalang, Jan. 13; Dingdong Eduque, Archimedes King and Jun Quintanar, Jan. 14; FCCP’s Nena Casimiro, Kathy Santiago Litton and Tony Leviste, Jan. 15; Bulletin’s Environment and Nature editor Priscilla Arias, Jan. 16; Minnie Osmeña, Hilda Coronel, Sen. Sonny Osmeña, Ronaldo Salonga and Dinah del Rosario of Filart, Jan. 17; and Jo Ramos-Samartino, Renee Salud, Marco Ballesteros, Joy Virata and Doris Nuyda, Jan. 18.

So, how was your week?

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For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at: jjlitton@indanet.com