Lunch at the Coconut Palace; Mexican golf great in Manila

Lunch with the VP

Vice President Jejomar Binay hosted a simple lunch for some columnists of The Philippine Star at the Coconut Palace last Wednesday. Ever the amiable and genial host, VP Binay showed STAR columnists around his official residence, also known as “Tahanang Pilipino,” whose interiors done in Earth colors indeed remind one of a warm and welcoming home.

According to spokesperson Joey Salgado, the Vice President regularly holds simple lunches to touch base with media people. VP Binay, who was recently tasked to head a commission to look into the plight of overseas Filipino workers on death row, has maintained very high satisfaction ratings since 2010 and in fact has the highest score among the country’s top government officials in the surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations.

Mexican golf great in Manila

Mexican Ambassador Julio Camarena Villaseñor hosted a reception in honor of golfer Lorena Ochoa at the Ambassador’s residence in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City.

Dubbed as Mexico’s greatest golfer, who was ranked No. 1 from 2007 until her early retirement in 2010, Ochoa was in town for a series of clinics sponsored by International Container Terminal Services Inc. chairman and president Ricky Razon.

The former Ladies Professional Golfers Association top shotmaker was clearly impressed with the country’s female golfers, saying it’s not too farfetched to see Filipinas making a name in the international golfing scene in the near future.