MEDIUM RARE Those two words are in quotation marks because I didn’t say it, though I wish I had. They were used by Ermelita Valdeavilla, chairman of the Philippine Commission on Women, who was a guest of former San Juan mayor Guia Gomez at the opening of a two-day bazaar at Robinsons...
MEDIUM RARE Two of my friends sat in the front row for Rowena Arrieta’s homecoming concert last March 14. Several rows higher up, I thought I had a better view of the pianist’s hands and her right foot on the pedal in spite of her long gown. Rowena was a young girl when she, along...
MEDIUM RARE First lady Liza A. Marcos was walking fast, almost running, near the Goldenberg Mansion, one of the heritage houses that she has renovated and updated within Malacañang Park. I waved at her, “Why the hurry?” and she said she was late for a meeting. Trying to keep up with her...
MEDIUM RARE This is a true story. Only the name of the narrator, “Amy,” is a fiction. Amy, looking 18 but thinking 25, is in second year college majoring in theology, civil law, and philosophy. Her assignment: visit a “typical” family of six, find out how they live on one...
MEDIUM RARE Surrounded by tall, impressive structures in Bonifacio Global City, a cozy two-story building glows with mellow lights on Rizal Drive. It is soon after sunset, shortly after cocktails, and guests have started streaming into the building’s 120-seat theater. Singapore’s embassy...
MEDIUM RARE There is a God. A God who overrules forecasts of very hot weather by the simple expediency of sending us a constellation of clouds to partly cover the face of the sun for part of the time. Clouds are my thing. I love them, don’t you? And that’s why I wish meteorologist and...
Medium Rare Beauty is big business. And Ruby S. Coyiuto knows it. She has a Flawless beauty salon in every mall and a string of franchises longer than her two arms put together. I wouldn’t have known about Ruby’s flourishing business until she invited me, as the former classmate of her mom,...
MEDIUM RARE To continue our tour of Manila’s Malate district as exemplified once upon a time by fashion designers Pitoy Moreno (favorite of the beautiful, gracious Meldy Cojuangco), Ben Farrales, Christian Espiritu, Ernest Santiago, Aureo Alonso, Auggie Cordero. Malate’s crown jewel was...
MEDIUM RARE In the good old days Manila’s fourth district, Malate, was where to find the friendliest coffeeshops and restaurants, just as there was a Remedios Circle that was home to the most famous fashion designers – they were called couturiers, and among them was Pitoy Moreno. Pitoy...
MEDIUM RARE It was 11:44 p.m. Valentine’s Day 2025. I was with my friend in his car on EDSA when I thought it was a good time — after dinner, before bedtime — to catch JPE and greet him on his 101st birthday. Seconds before I could press “send” to Katrina Ponce Enrile, a digital...
MEDIUM RARE At age 125, this newspaper was dancing, dining, enjoying the company of friends new and old and young at cocktail time. At our table at the Manila Hotel Tent City last Monday the 10th I was in good company with former chief justice Hilario Davide and former executive secretary Bert...
MEDIUM RARE With first lady Liza A. Marcos sounding the call on video to greet Sebastian Chua a happy birthday, the ballroom erupted in applause and cheers. She said it was a “little bird” who told her the magic number, 82. Where I sat facing the door, a parade of VIPs, most of...
