 |
| Garveznostalgia just i'snt what it used to be
by Anthony de
Barras |
SALLY OLANDA - PARIS STYLESplendidly cocooned on her high rise condo, Sally Olanda definitely lived a fun and chic lifestyle, surrounded by her myriad collection of wonderful objects she has amassed in her various worldwide travels. Before settling down in Toronto de blue, Sally has lived in continental Europe for 15 years , first in the city of lights Paris, then on to the eternal city of Rome and lastly in the Nordic city of Sweden. She was on those terms, the personal assistant of a high ranking diplomat posting on those plum Foreign Service assignment. Nostalgia, both seized us by the throat, as we revived those fun years in Rome and Paris, which I my dear readers, had a good fortune to be a one time resident of those two remarkable cities, in the not so distant past of my checkered life.
Sally vividly remembered the parade of very important personalities, that they had hosted in Paris, like former Pres. Aquino, Mayor Lim. Sec. Romulo of the DFA , just to rattle a few of droppable bold faced names. Sally, is an extremely great cook, having enrolled in culinary arts at the famed Cordon Bleu. At the same time, she was a good friend of Nora Daza, who that time operated a Philippine restaurant, located near the L'Opera. Madame Daza, personally imparted to Sally some cooking technique and great recipes. She talked with fondness in Paris, when the beautiful Rose Lacson, her one time boarder in the dorm, she managed in Malate, visited her with her husband the late Don Hancock, who at that time was the richest man in Australia. For two solid weeks she was on vacation from her job, since Rose insisted in giving her a suite at the Hotel de Maxim, that time, the "in” place to be billeted in Paris, what Hotel de Meurice, designed and managed by Philippe Starck and daughter is the “in” hotel to day. Of co
urse, a uniformed chauffeur on a sleek Rolls Royce, ferried them around the hot spots of Paris. We also touch based with our common friends, like Gloria Garganera, now retired, the highest ranking Filipina at the UNESCO, the late Jojo Bannag, who was the official interpreter when Ex-President Cory Aquino made her state visit to France.
In her early days in towering Toronto de blue, Sally did a lot of catering for high-end parties in the Phil-Canadian circle with Purita, the wife of General Cruz, a contemporary of the Military days of former President Ramos. These days, Sally with her generosity and kind heart assist many a Filipinas, in regard to job placement for free, though take note of that, she is not a placement agency. She also volunteers, by cooking in soup kitchen to feed the alarming rate of homeless people. As ever, her calendar, is always accented with her usual travel plans to the world’s great places to visit. Sally quipped before I departed, “Life's been good! It has been a great ride." She utterly deserved all those graces and manna from heaven.
JO-ANNE TACORDA SHINES IN "HAIR"Tess and Henry Tacorda, great friends from way back, invited me to watch the local production of " HAIR" the musicale, at the Oakville Center of the Performing Arts. One of the featured cast was their lovely daughter, Jo-Anne, who has now grown into a talented lady with an undiminished passion for great performance. It runs in the family genes, since, nostalgia again reminded me that, Henry's older brother was an in demand character actor in so many Tagalog films, plus the late great actor Dindo Fernando, was their blood relation.
The well-designed venue was filled to capacity, as we were transported to a nostalgic trip of the fluid abstract world of the sixties, when racial bias was exactly blinding, the sexual revolution at its zenith with the sudden availability of the Pill, economic upheaval was a rampant rise, the Vietnam War was in total escalation and political correctness was unheard, nary the order of the day.
Of course, the musical was revolutionary in its time, when nudity was shown, fowl and four lettered words were abundantly uttered, that a show directive was explicitly posted that mature subjects matter, discretion advised. Nevertheless, I adored the show, with the young performers boundless energy and the songs that reverberates in one's reverie like Aquarius, Easy to be Hard, Good Morning Star Shine and many more memorable tunes.
After, the successful show, we were shepherd to the imposing residence of the Tacorda's, for a party. The tastefully furnished interior was accented with superb Chinese Antiques, that Henry collected on his regular trip to Asia, as part of his company requirement. Relatives, friends and office gang mates of the star Jo-Anne, showered her with bouquet of floral offerings and heaping verbal accolade for a job well done. It was a great party with a merry mixture of good-looking young professionals that certainly, embodies the vibrant mosaic of Canada. Indeed, a lovely theater nite-out.
CHARMI GARVEZ CHARMED BY QUITO!Considering she is the only girl in the family with two strapping brothers, Carmel Cynthia Garvez, being the youngest of proud parents Carmenchu and Jess Garvez was always a level headed achiever. She will soon graduate from high-school at the prestigious all girl's school at the Loreto Abbey Catholic Secondary School, whose buildings clearly reminds me of Casa Loma, located on Yonge, known as the 150 years old Boulevard, where obviously, Toronto's carriage set (read; the Ultra rich) reside in total splendor.
Recently, Charmi returned from a two week field trip from Quito, Ecuador with selected classmates, who I must dare to say, whose parents can well afford to finance the trip. The trip was invaluable for the total experience the group amassed like trekking to the mountains, where sadly, a lot of the young students suffered high altitude sickness, since Quito is next to La Paz, Bolivia in relative to its elevation. However, Charmi, admired the old district of Quito which is a UNESCO world heritage site. They also enjoyed the thermal springs that Quito is much famous, they went canoeing in Punta Ahuaco.
The trip was not filled with fun activities, they got the chance to mingle with their local counterparts to exchange notes, they visited impoverished schools to give assistant, and spread goodwill and understanding. The field trip was truly rewarding not only in character building, but a great accomplishment when they will apply for University acceptance. I feel nostalgia, twist me by the arm, when I look at charming Charmi, soon to enter the University , with a great future in store ahead in the vast horizon, and come to think, I Knew her when she was just a little bubbly girl.
LOVELY LADIES VYING TO BE PARALUMANA last minute quick invitation, saw me enjoying a nite out at the FCT in Parliament, and the main event was the presentation of the six lovely ladies, to become the signature "Paraluman." Maria Luisa Sivilia, an FCT Director, explicitly stated that the Paraluman title is an essence to give honor to successful Fil-Canadian ladies who has achieved a degree of distinction in their various fields of endeavors. The very effective and efficient, Linda Cerrudo Javier, lauded the ladies are all winners in this novel competition. I loved Linda, when she speaks, you are truly glued to every word she delivers with panache and considering she speaks from the heart, no notes for that matter.
It was great to see familiar faces, since its been quite a time, I visited the FCT, like vivacious Wendy Arena with her longer hair and fetching bangs, the FCT official chronicler, Aida D'orazio glamorous as ever, who introduced me to her equally lovely friends the Ola chica
chabacano speaking elegant ladies. It was great to see the tireless and one of the asset of the FCT, the workaholic Nita Redjik, the debonair and oh so hunky, Fidelio Javier, garbed in delicate Jusi Barong with intricate design. FCT now sports a great spacious look, a great place to host parties and memorable events. I recalled, the first summer, I was here in Towering Toronto, I was introduced to the late Dr. De Villa. I informed him, that Monica, the wife of Rene de Villa, who was a Presidential candidate for the Philippines, was my province mate, and that I used to go to their home town in San Juan, Batangas, when I was a part of the groupie of the famous fashion designer Rene Salud who hails from the same town with the beauty queens and models we used to cavort for fun in the undeveloped beach of Laiya. Now the son Efren de Villa, is carrying the torch, as vice chairman of the FCT Board.
The six accomplished lovely ladies vying for the plum title are Hilda Arcega, Baby Palumbaring, Susan Tevez Lee, Annabelle Chipomgian, Maria Dolores Shin and Isabel Aperucho, good luck ladies and as far as I'm concerned, you are all winners. The array of musical stars that were featured for our delectable entertainment, were truly musically astounding like Nicole Ramos, who I envisioned to be on Broadway stage in the near future, Charilyn Marundan, who can put to shame Bette Middler with her own interpretation of “Wings Beneath My Sail.” Charlene Dorland, take note producers of Toronto, she is the girl to watch, not only she is a gifted singer, she has the look and the body to become a total celebrity, if she goes to Manila. Surely ABS and GMA will have bidding war for her talent. The belter Edessa Marie Andrada, has a powerful voice and stage presence that can level the latest sensation Charisse T. Take note, jot down on your calendar the coronation for Paraluman will be on March, be sure to be there.
.
Print
Tell friend
Top
