A concert at The Pen

“While we are living in the present, we must celebrate life every day, knowing that we are becoming history with every work, every action, every deed.” – Mattie Stepanek

More than 800 hotel patrons and guests occupied The Peninsula Manila from The Lobby all the way to the third floor gallery for a much-awaited concert. 

The two-hour concert featured some of the country’s top musical treasures under the baton of renowned Italian conductor maestro Ruggero Barbieri. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the University of Santo Tomas Singers, to name a few, performed at the hotel’s majestic lobby for the event that has become an annual tradition in Makati.  Concert highlights include the rendition of the rousing Ride of the Valkyries, a moving interpretation of The Lord’s Prayer and a surprise flash mob performance of some of The Pen’s employees.

Attending the event were Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited chairman Sir Michael Kadoorie and his wife Lady Betty, Jaime Zobel de Ayala and wife Bea, Doris Magsaysay-Ho, Dee Zobel, Rustan Group of Companies chairman Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco and Rustan Commercial Corp. president Nedy Tantoco. 

The concert was held for the benefit of Father Al’s Children’s Foundation, which cares for 12,000 abused or neglected high school boys and girls from all over the Philippines.

GREETINGS

Happy birthday to our celebrators today: world-renowned sculptor Ramon Orlina, actress Dina Bonnevie and Ricardo de Leon.

Advance birthday greetings to Sen. Loren Legarda, Annette Aguado and Paolo Aguado, Jan. 28; Angela Litton, Jan. 29; STAR’s Lito Tacujan, Jan. 31; Aida Posadas, Mundy Feliciano, Henry Cojuangco and Antonio Montinola, Feb. 1; Pia Lopez, Feb. 2.

So, how was your week?

(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)