Thursday, June 21, 2007 Magsaysay: Annie's hour By Jo Magsaysay Whatever
THE proverbial wild horses could not have kept the media, particularly my colleagues, away from the Gabriella Gallery if they had known this was the latest event in the eventful life of Annie Chen-Fussner. A thoroughly lovely person with multi-faceted talents, Annie has this massive building, Business Walls she calls it, across Rolling Hills in A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue, where she houses the art gallery.
The heavy downpour, the absence of Anne’s name in the invitations as well as a location map of the site, however, did not prevent the VIPs from attending the affair. After all, Jing Ramos with the seraph curls, astute mind and street-smart sass, who is actually named Jacinto, acted as Annie’s prime minister making such executive decisions from who is to cut the ceremonial ribbon, whom to invite, whose paintings should be exhibited in the Gallery and what to eat (roast calf, hearty sandwiches, black forest cupcakes) and what wines to flow.
*****
Doing the ceremonial honors were the pre-eminent national artist, professor Napoleon Abueva, Richard Stolzman of Pathfinder, Navy Commander Cecil Chen – Annie’s brother – and the fashionable socialite-cum-fine artist, Rosebud Sala. A fashion plate herself in silken white, the slim, sloe-eyed hostess, escorted the guests up the second flight of steps where the stunning collection of paintings were exhibited, among them the works of award-winning artists, like Fred Galan, Manuel Pañares, Vidal Alcoseba Jr., Mariano Vidal, as well as such astounding painters as Andrew Barba, Maxcell Migallos, Kimsoy Yap Jr., from the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts in New York Tito Cuevas Jr. who paints in the manner of the expressionist, and F. Domenador Besares, OSA, whose paintings are a fusion of the iconographic style of the past and ethnographic motif of the present; the sacred trying to reach out to the profane. An incredible 20 paintings were sold on the spot to art lovers Rosebud Sala, Philip Rodriguez, Arcy Gayatin (she does look like a gorgeous China doll with her bangs and bob hair, her beautiful dark eyes, doesn’t she?). A nameless art lover quickly snapped up a painting by Annie, an amazing reflection of her own personality, colorful, vibrant and exciting.
*****
That Annie Chen Fussner paints and is an artist shouldn’t be a surprise, her sterling silver jewelry crafted and designed by her has made her one of Asia’s dazzling jewelers (her exhibit in Shangri-La Mactan seven years ago was a sterling silver success). A real estate developer, her enclave of designer homes in Tabogon is becoming Cebu’s Caribbean resort. Deeply religious, she built the adoration chapel, a divinely peaceful place for meditation open 24 hours a day at the Metropolitan Cathedral. A devoted wife to Chris Fussner making a happy home for him and their children – Chris, Casey and beautiful daughter Gabriella (the gallery is named after her). Annie is awesome.
*****
Her guests headed by Margot Osmena, Teresin Mendezona, Efren and Margette Sarmiento, Aimil, Marco and Martine, Valerie Sharpe, Chito Alcordo, Arsing Abella, Lydia Alfonso, Moises, Evelyn and Selina Selma, Theresian classmates—Marissa Fernan, Liz Garcia, Rudy and Zonette Balbuena, Tata Mempin, Amelia Unson, Gus and Debbie Palao, and Tonette Solatan Pañares, who is the knowledgeable curator and inspiring wife of celebrated artist Manuel who earned the Alibata Award for his outstanding contribution to the preservation of Philippine art and culture.
All of them agree, Annie Chen Fussner is one grand woman of substance, incredible and awesome.
*****
A modest assertion: he is a hard act to follow. A modest disclaimer: I am still green around the edges, I have yet to learn many things and am still a long way to go.
*****
Modesty does not become the two gentlemen on stage although I am inclined to agree with Roy Abraham, the incoming general, manager of Cebu City Marriott Hotel. Anyone can be a GM but absolutely no one can be Karl Hudson who is a man all his own; good-looking, good natured, gentle and soft- spoken. A wholesome sense of humor, a keen wit that is never barbed, a man of thought and vision, his acuity equaled only by a deep-rooted social conscience, Karl has charisma that has captivated all those he comes in contact with, from powerful politicians, influential businessmen, corporate types, diplomats, beautiful people and down to the scruffy little boys and girls who timidly take his offered hand to welcome them to his party.
He has endeared himself to everyone. He is beloved in Cebu.
*****
At the hail-farewell cocktail reception, the Marriott Hotel staff, Dottie Wurgler, Joan Danao, Dolly Belo and all the rest of the sweet young women hustling and bustling around their work, including my favorite waiters, Jason and Gerald looking forlorn; the girls smartly dressed in black, a subtle hint of their state of mind I suppose but which was woefully affirmed by one of them: "we are in mourning." I personally am devastated; through the years Karl has become a dear friend, he and his beautiful Rose have become quite special to me and I grieve. Nevertheless, I am cheered by the thought that I shall see them again, very soon in September when they have their baby, the first addition to their own family, the first edition of what will be the wonderful storybook of Karl Hudson, Marriott’s Main Man in China.
*****
A fast clip of snapshots recalled a tow-headed little boy in New Zealand, an athletic teenager, an urbane gentleman in socials, a hotelier at work in Japan and China. What the photos don’t show are the four years he served Marriott in northern China where he threw himself into intense study of Chinese culture and dialects, he speaks maybe seven or eight, not including Mandarin, which would serve him in good stead in his new assignment in Southern China Sangya. It is a resort hotel which looked like paradise but which Rose tells us is so hot and humid Karl lost weight from sweating too much. No sweat, however, for Karl to learn a couple more Chinese dialects; if he can pick up Boholano to the last idya-idya aho-aho, Chinese is a cinch. So now, farewell Karl and Rose. I’ll be seeing you again.
*****
Feeling inadequate as he probably does that he is not a shoo-in to fit in conveniently into the shoes of the popular Karl, the replacement Roy Abraham has his own impressive credentials. Cebuanos will know sooner than later that with the swarthy good looks and refined manners of a Hindu married to a Filipina, Mr. Abraham will find himself, adapting, swimming happily into the mainstream of life in Cebu. Welcome, Roy!
