Socio-Humanitarian

An exquisite Mother and Child oil painting donated by eminent artist Betsy Westerndorp will be auctioned off during the fundraising and elegant tea party to be held by the Catholic Women’s Club on March 17 at the Makati residence of Bea Zobel.

Motif of the affair, Hapon ng Pamana, will feature the Filipino terno to be modelled by CWC members and friends, their children and grandchildren. The theme was conceptualized by Bea Zobel Jr., chairman of the event, along with committee members Pilie Aquino, Sharmila Hiranand, Anne Preysler, Marilen Elizalde, Sofia Elizalde, Lita Gelano, Junie Peña and Severine Miailhe.

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The Johann Strauss Society recently held its third ball–patterned after the traditionally grand Vienna Opera Ball–at the Le Pavilion Metropolitan Park on Roxas Blvd.

Eight debutantes and their escorts were introduced to an audience of ranking diplomats and the elite from business and social circles. Austrian conductor Ernest Hoetzl, who came expressly for the ball, once again wielded the baton over the PPO; leading tenor Nolyn Cabahug and soprano Deeda Barretto were the featured singers.

Austrian Susanne Janukula choreographed the debutantes’ waltz; Filipino choreographer Gener Caringal gave the young women and their partners basic waltzing lessons. The rigodon de honor, participated in by diplomats and prominent figures in society, arts and culture was choreographed by Bujing Danao.

Nonoy Lopez and his band played for the all-night dancing of guests who, earlier, enjoyed the gourmet cuisine prepared by Mandarin Oriental’s award-winning chefs.

Over-all chairman Letty C. Syquia disclosed that proceeds from the ball were donated to a community-based hospice. (Last year’s proceeds reached the half-million mark!)

Trustees of the Johann Strauss Society, which was founded by Kay Siazon, are Austrian Ambassador Christian Krepela, honorary chairman; Austrian Trade Commissioner Wolfgang Warwalik, honorary vice-chairman; Chito Madrigal Collantes, adviser; Kay Siazon, president; Mandarin Oriental GM Helmut Gaisberger, vice-president.

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Ambassador Christian Krepela and his wife Irmgard held an exhibition of paintings by young Filipino artist at their Makati residence under the patronage of Washington Sycip.

Proceeds of the highly successful exhibition went to the SOS Children’s Village of which there are seven in the country. SOS Children’s Villages Philippines is part of an international private welfare organization started in Austria in 1949 by Hermann Gmeiner for World War II orphans.

The organization grew from his conviction that help can only be effective if a child grows up within a family and a home. Friends, sponsors and donors allowed the first village to grow in Europe and around the world. Today, there are more than 40,000 children living in 439 SOS Children’s Villages in 131 countries.