“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.†– Albert Camus
More than 550 guests filled the beautifully decorated Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La at the 38th Annual Consular Ball.
Event chairperson Monaco Consul General Fortune Ledesma said the annual highlight of the Philippine international community’s diplomatic-consular calendar was a huge success — raising P1 million for the relief and rehabilitation of the survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda that struck the Visayas last November.
The donation was presented to the Department of Social Welfare and Development before the ball through Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario by the Dean of the Consular Corps of the Philippines, Canada Consul General Steve Chapman, Consul General Fortune Ledesma and her co-chairs, Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and Tanzania Consul Betty Chua, with other members of the Corps’ executive board led by vice dean and incoming dean of the Corps for 2014 George Yang, who is also Eritrea Consul General.
Among the Ball’s major donors that greatly contributed to the fund were CATS Motors Inc./Mercedes-Benz, Megaworld Corp. and Foundation, 2GO Group, Calata Corp. and Federal Land Inc.
A fantastic array of prizes that included airline tickets, cruise ship accommodations and gift certificates to resorts were raffled off to spice up the evening.
See you at the next ball!
Greetings
Happy birthday greetings to our celebrators today, Tessie Luz, Liding Oledan, Marlou H. Litton and Jorge Araneta.
Advance birthday greetings to Nenette Puyat and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Feb. 17; Loreto Cabañes, Feb. 18; STAR’s Tony Katigbak and Lolita Villareal, Feb. 19; Chari Bagatsing and Jay Lopez, Feb. 20; Lyra Rufino Maceda, Grace Padilla, International star Lea Salonga and architect Jorge Ramos, Feb. 22.
Belated birthday greetings to Rep. Gina de Venecia, Feb. 15.
So, how was your week?
(For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com.)