Our town’s rich and famous, the arty set, diplomats and names from the social register filed past the reception table where we got name tags with our sun signs. At a quarter to nine, waiters came around with baskets of wax roses that had numbers tied to their stems corresponding to seat numbers at the tables. That way, nobody planned who to sit with; instead, the Universe, or Fate, or Good Fortune decided the matter!
My rose number seated me with Rustan’s mega-lady Nedy Tantoco with fiance Patrick Jacinto, angel of sustenance Tessie Crespo Alsua, businessman Tom Chua, everyone’s palangga Glenda Baretto, eligible Ramon Ilusorio, George Winternitz, Tetchie Remondoslaz, Rosemary Lopez, Singaporean Amb. Jacky Foo and his wife Dr. Yumian Su, who just happens to be a Doctor of Nuclear Physics who teaches at UP.
Moi saw Young Presidents Org. officer Basil Ong, architect free-again gent Conrad Onglao; DBP’s Leila Pañares and soil engineer Annie Barba joined the table of French Amb. Gilles Chouraqui; securities exec Jules Tarrobago and debonair Tonet Lagdameo who is often seen these days without his wife working socialite Linda Florendo added charm to the table of I-bank’s Ramon and Josie Sy.
During dessert and apres dinner many of the guests serenaded us with songs, but the highlight was the host himself who sang his favorite, Rod McKuen’s "I’ll Catch the Sun", a sort of personal anthem. Moi never found out who else sang after moi quietly sneaked out at 1:30 am, with a farewell from smiling waiters who gave us each a yellow balloon to be released, they said, after we had made a wish and an affirmation. I made my wish, thanking the Universe for someone like our palangga George who has shared with us his wonderful way of looking at life. Merci George! You are definitely tres celestial!
Remember, palanggas, "The power of Jesus Christ within you is greater than the power of evil around you." Smile. See you.