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Thursday, May 04, 2006
Magsaysay: A garden wedding in Catskill
By Jo Magsaysay
Whatever
That gorgeous lady in the photo is, of course, Didang Paulin.
Bienvenida “Didang” Sadaya Paulin whose sense of style and elegant presence lent a touch of glamour to the local scene several years back.
Stepping out of her self-imposed seclusion in New Jersey suburbia, Didang attended the wedding of her granddaughter, Vanessa, to an American businessman, Andrew Stora, in the picturesque Catlin Garden in the Catskill Region in upstate New York. Vanessa is the daughter of Pauline Paulin, better known as Bebot to her Theresian friends, remembering her as taking up her post-graduate studies in the University of Perugia. Her five years in Italy became the springboard to her successful career with the Italian Trade Commission as marketing and promotions officer in the Investment Center; her fluency in the Italian language serving her in good stead traveling all over Italy and America where she was instrumental in organizing the recent conference on investment and security in the New York Stock Exchange with Prime Minister Berluscani as guest speaker and David Rockefeller among the prominent investors.
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Still chic and fashionable, Didang is escorted to the wedding by her two great grandsons, Malcolm, son of Diane Lora, and Marquis, son of Michelle Lora.
The young gentlemen are the sons of Georgianna “Bicbic” Lora, eldest daughter of Didang and Tony, who passed away last year. Another source of pride for Didang, Bicbic is at present executive vice president of Deer Stags.
Her fluency in five languages, sharpened in the finishing school in Switzerland, has been the keystone of her corporate career in business in major cities in South America, Europe and Asia. Friends of Didang will be delighted to know she intends to come down for an extended visit here next month.
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The “gift of life” of Felisa “Feling” Chiongbian exalts her on her 84th birthday.
The amazing Feling, brimming over with youthful exuberance, the vitality of a teenager and the stamina of a champion athlete, pranced around the City Lights Garden Social Hall, greeting her well-wishers, relatives from both sides of the Yap and Chiongbian branches of her family. When she is not rocking on her feet, telling her life story and counting her blessings, she was waltzed around by Father John Iacono of the Inayawan Child Care Center, one of her favorite charities. For the benefit of her great grandchildren, there were red balloons, rainbow colored sugar roses in the enormous three-layer cake and raffle prizes. Next year when she is 85, Feling is giving a gigantic blowout, a big bang, a real blast, the whole works she said with a twinkle in her eyes. No doubt at all, Feling will be overwhelming.
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A thanksgiving mass on Easter Sunday was the happy celebration of Hermie Cabinian’s own gift of life. Another octogenarian joins the growing number of that elite group of able-bodied, able-minded, able-spirited senior citizens.
Hale, hearty and healthy Hermie, with his sweet and gentle Anita by his side, welcomed guests at the City Sports Club and gratefully accepted the generous “love offering” donated for the reconstruction of the St. Therese Parish Church.
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It is not the number of years in a person’s life that counts but rather it is the good a person does in life. So when Conchita Jubela Suzara turned 90 years, her family had countless reasons to celebrate her gift of life “…the moments of love and laughter…the traditions and memories…the wonderful ways you’ve made life special…you’ve shown us the true meaning of love in everything you do…” From Australia, Canada, Michigan and Sacramento, Conching’s children (Augusto III, Cynthia Lagac, Conchita Barrientos, Elena Noval, Evelyn Carlos) their spouses and their children joined hands to give “Mommy/Lola” a huge party at the Casino Espanol with the Renaissance Band (Herminio, Christiaan and Johanna Mae, a special participation from the family) playing all through the night and the celebrant’s mahjong cronies, Friends of the Poor, in attendance, mahjong being the most not-so-secret-weapon against aging!
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Pan de sal, the bread of life, may well be the gift of life for every Filipino and the health-conscious among us, who have discovered the whole wheat pan de sal at Postrio. At the opening of Postrio branch in Acacia street, Spanish Consul Jaime Picornell and Dr. Jean Oporto Flordeliz cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Fastest selling in the counter was the whole wheat pan de sal or sliced loaves in two kinds, with a little bit of sugar or no sugar added at all for those watching their glucose count.
Zelia Borromeo, ever the doting auntie, looked on with fond pride as her nieces, Corito and Janice, attended to their guests.
Corito Yu, older daughter of Monching and Sony (Borromeo) Escario, manages the main Postrio bakeshop at Banilad Town Center; while Janice takes on the branch at Acacia. A plate set before me with tiny bite-size tea sandwiches and mini cupcakes of Postrio’s best desserts, which, sorry to admit, I demolished to the quick; they were ambrosia! I do cheat on my diet occasionally and when I do, I go on a binge and pig out with the Postrio delights. My favorite is and will always be their blueberry cheesecake. To die for!
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 4, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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