Thursday, April 17, 2008 Utzurrum: Awards, hello and goodbye By Chinggay V. Utzurrum The scene
NOW on its proud 21st year, the Perlas Awards on Valuable Filipino 2008, a project of the Philippines Foundation Inc. (PFI), was recently held at the SM Theater One.
In its 21 glorious years, the PFI has lived up to its lofty mission: to elevate men and women, as well as institutions, to the level of everyday heroes and in this manner, make them role models to be emulated.
Annually, the officers scour the province of Cebu for possible candidates, and these candidates are further screened until the organization arrives at a near-perfect short list.
In fitting ceremonies, the following awardees received their Pearl trophies: Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko (non-government organization) and Sisters of Mary (religious institution).
Dr. Fe Necessario for valuable Educator; Patricio Damaolao for Valuable Farmer; Consul Roberto Aboitiz for Valuable Leader in youth and community development; and Secretary Joseph H. Durano for Valuable Filipino for Leadership in the tourism industry.
For their tireless and dedicated tasks, we’d like to congratulate the PFI officers: president, Fr. Ernesto O. Javier S.J.; executive vice president (VP), Efren Valiente; VP, Marissa N. Fernan; corporate secretary, Dr. Lourdes Jereza; treasurer, Tess Chan; assistant treasurer, Elvira G. Luym; auditor, Consul John Domingo; legal counsel, Atty. Merle P. Cunanan; PRO, Nelia G. Neri; and directors, Ver De La Cerna, Pilar Cusi, Consul Sabino Dapat; Petite Garcia, Michael Go, and Dr. Ester Velasquez. Spiritual adviser is Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
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We were requested to dress in resort chic for the farewell bash for the well-loved GM of Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa Timothy Wright, and his gorgeous better-half, Mona; and also to warmly welcome incoming GM, Raymond Bragg, who hails from New Zealand.
As appropriate, the venue was the Ocean Pavilion where the ambiance is always extra-tropical, being near the beach. And how the wines and spirits flowed!
The mood was ambivalent. Waxing sentimental was the couple, Tim and Mona, as they delivered a heart-tugging farewell address. On the other hand, Raymond Bragg embraces his new post, which is in the tropical paradise that is Mactan and a far cry from his recent post in Dalian, China, where the wind can turn bitter.
Announcement: Guess who was the surprise guest who marched in? A bagpiper, tooting the pipes to the utter delight of Tim, who is as Scottish as they come!
That was another heartwarming moment, and the cocktail crowd empathized with him. Our biggest consolation is Tim’s next post, which is still an Asian neighbor: Bangkok.
