Lady Bountiful and Her Scholars

Only Imelda "Meldy" Cojuangco can infuse elegance and style into her role as Lady Bountiful. Each year, Meldy contributes to the J. Moreno Foundation which funds the tuition fees of certain scholars in medicine and fine arts at the UP. Such philanthrophy evidently allows the recipients to continue with their studies despite the current economic crisis.

Meldy’s friends, many of whom society columnists dab "the beautiful people", regularly come to witness the handing over of the scholarship awards at the beautiful Makati residence of Rene and Yaying Dragon. Incidentally, most of "the beautiful people" can be counted on to become surrogate "ninangs" themselves, and thus help increase the number of scholars eventually.

In keeping with similar occasions in the past, a mass was celebrated by the young Jesuit Fr. R. B. Hizon to sanctify the event which happily coincided with Meldy’s birthday. Pitoy Moreno co-hosted the native merienda which followed, offering his "fabulous" fruit and macapuno salad.

Enjoying this, along with many other delicacies, were Vicky Delgado, Menchu Concepcion, Tereret Liboro, Nelly Gonzalez, Mary Prieto, Ditas Jalbuena, Mercy Tuason, Offie Recto, Madeleine Lim, Zita Feliciano, Judy Roxas, Mely Hechanova (who stood out in her chic tangerine attire with matching jade necklace), Chloe Romulo, Thelma Gana, Alice Briones and Carol Masibay.

Jimmy Laya added an educational touch to the ambiance as the following scholars received their awards: Charlene Oris, Pia Bagamasbad, Merenisa Moti, Melissa Ann Leonardo, Karen Nicolasa Galaites, Leonel Foronda, Rhoda Franco, Marvin Samson (medicine); Al Illanza, Humphrey Gorriceta, Carlito Amalia, Carlo Tabije, Jethro Razo, Daniel Matutina, Ma. Frances Therese Quiller, Marina Lyn Cruz, Melvin Salonzo and John Atienza (fine arts).

Before guests said goodbye, with Ronnie Alejandro finally setting aside his camera, each of them got a plastic box of Pitoy’s famous lengua de gato. This being so "heavenly", we all thought Pitoy should open a pastry shop beside each of his fashion salons.